DND exec’s exit clarified

Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) chairwoman Constancia de Guzman clarified yesterday that former defense assistant secretary Ricardo San Andres was dismissed for graft, and not among those who resigned as earlier reported by defense officials.

De Guzman said San Andres was discharged from the office after the PAGC’s investigation showed him receiving double compensation, receiving his salaries and benefits while working for a special project with the European Commission (EC).

San Andres was earlier reported as among the seven officials who tendered their resignation following that of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz.

San Andres helped to implement the Health Sector Reform Agenda in the Defense department but at the same time, he worked as an EC employee during the project’s 50-day duration, De Guzman said.

San Andres was slapped with the penalty of dismissal from service with the corresponding accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification to hold public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of government financial benefits for violating the Anti-Graft Law and Administrative Code of the Philippines.

While San Andres was given a 15-day period to file his motion for reconsideration before the Office of the President, he has yet to submit his petition within the given prescriptive period. — Paolo Romero