Palace official cleared of graft

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) dismissed yesterday the graft charges against Press Undersecretary for Media Relations Carmen Suva.

In an eight-page resolution, the PAGC recommended to President Arroyo the dismissal of the case "for lacking in probable cause."

The case stemmed from the non-inclusion of a 1999 model Toyota Tamaraw FX GLX in Suva’s 2000—2002 sworn statement of assets and liabilities (SAL).

"All told, there being insufficiency of evidence on record to prove that the respondent willfully and feloniously omitted as one of her assets the subject vehicle in her 2000—2002 SALs, the Commission is not convinced that the offense charged has been committed," PAGC Director Dario Rama and Commissioner Teresita Baltazar wrote in their resolution.

The PAGC gave credence to the affidavit submitted by Suva’s son-in-law stating that he is the rightful owner of the controversial vehicle with plate number BSA-555.

Suva, fondly called "Tita Ching" by reporters covering the Malacañang beat, has served the Malacañang Press Office since 1962.

Her more than four-decade stint at the press office has spanned six presidents — from the late President Diosdado Macapagal to his daughter Mrs. Arroyo.

In 2002, Suva was given a gold necklace in recognition of her 40 years of unblemished and dedicated service to the government.

She was also the recipient of the "Outstanding Employee" of the Ministry of Public Information in 1980 and the "Outstanding Woman Employee" of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) in 1989.