PRC exec suspended

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales issued yesterday a preventive suspension order against Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) Commissioner Alfredo Po, who is being investigated for two more cases after being charged with graft last month.

In a Jan. 9 resolution, Morales said Po is under suspension for six months without pay after the National Bureau of Investigation arrested him on Dec. 5, 2012 while allegedly extorting money from lawyer Ernesto delos Santos, who owns a building in Baguio that houses the PRC’s satellite office.

Po is also the subject of an investigation for allegedly soliciting and accepting money and failing to account for collections for the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME).

The investigation stemmed from from a January 2006 letter from a “group of mechanical engineering practitioners.” Po, prior to his appointment as PRC commissioner, served as chairman of the Board of Mechanical Engineering (BME) in 2005. He reportedly changed the process and system of collection for the November 2005 and May 2006 oath-taking ceremonies for passers of the board exam.

Upon his directive, P.7 million in PSME collections were reportedly turned over to him but the amount was never remitted to the PSME.

PRC chairperson Teresita Mansala was furnished a copy of the preventive suspension order against Po for its immediate implementation.