Sandigan suspends printing office director for 90 days

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has issued a 90-day suspension order against National Printing Office (NPO) director Emmanuel Andaya and four other officers of the agency who are facing trial for graft.

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division issued the preventive suspension order which Ombudsman prosecutors asked for based on Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Based on provisions of the law, suspension pending litigation is mandatory for incumbent government officials indicted before the Sandiganbayan.

Also suspended for 90 days were chief administrative officer Sylvia Banda, printing operations chief Antonio Sillona, budget officer Bernadette Lagumen and printing office assistant chief Ma. Gracia de Leon Enriquez.

Andaya and his fellow NPO officials are facing charges for their alleged involvement in the questionable grant of a P3.6-million government contract to JI Printers Inc. in 2011 through negotiated procurement.

The Sandiganbayan, noting that it found no merit in the arguments raised by the respondents asking that the request for a suspension order be junked, said Section 13 of Republic Act 3019 “unequivocally provides that the accused public officials ‘shall be suspended from office’ while the criminal prosecution is pending in court.”

“Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the President for the implementation of the order of suspension of the above accused,” the anti-graft court said in its ruling issued on July 28.