Ombudsman orders dismissal of 19 PNP execs for rubber boat scam

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday ordered the dismissal of 19 top Philippine National Police (PNP) officials for their involvement in the anomalous procurement of police coastal crafts (PCCs) worth P4.54 million in 2009.

The rubber boats were procured without public bidding but were certified to have passed the acceptance criteria, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The following top PNP officials were dismissed for grave misconduct and/or gross neglect of duty:

• Senior Superintendent Asher Dolina
• Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Yuzon
• Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas
• Senior Superintendent Thomas Abellar
• Senior Superintendent Nepomuceno Magno Corpus Jr.
• Senior Superintendent Rico Payonga
• Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal
• Chief Superintendent Rizaldo Tungala Jr.
• Senior Superintendent Alex Sarmiento
• Senior Superintendent Aleto Jeremy Mirasol
• Superintendent Michael Amor Filart
• PO3 Avensuel Dy
• Superintendent Job Marasigan
• Superintendent Leodegario Visaya
• Chief Superintendent Juanito Estrebor
• Chief Superintendent Renelfa Saculles
• Superintendent Henry Duque
• PNP Accounting Division Chief Antonio Retrato
• Chief Superintendent George Piano

Meanwhile, Commission on Audit Auditor for PNP Jaime Sañares was dismissed for gross neglect of duty.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales also ordered the filing of multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices against Roselle Ferrer and Pacita Umali of Four Petals Trading (FPT), the supplier of the rubber boats.

In 2009, the PNP National Headquarters issued a resolution requesting for watercrafts, which include 20 PCCs for a budget of P5 million.

Bumanglag, the director of the Maritime Group during the time, requested to increase the unit price from P250,000 to 312,000. This resulted to a reduction of the number of units from 20 to 16 rubber boats.

Several defects were discovered when the said rubber boats were delivered and inspected in March 2010 such as:

• lack of water temperature gauges, fuel gauges, engine oil pressure gauges and speedometers
• engines were not operational
• no rudder posts, one damaged outrigger
• no ampere gauge
• no canvass
• no hole back portion for starboard side
• no alternator
• stacked-up transmission
• no heater plug

READ: Graft charges filed vs 6 cops in defective coastal craft scam | 11 PNP officials dismissed over rubber boat anomaly

"The significant events leading to the procurement of 16 PCCs would not only reveal badges of irregularities but also of haste and preference to buy from FPT as the sole and only choice of supplier for coastal crafts," Morales said.

Morales directed Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and PNP Chief Police Director General Ricardo Marquez to implement the decision.