2 ex-UP Manila officials ordered dismissed

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of two former top officials of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila over “procedural lapses” in the award of a P46.71-million contract to a security firm last year.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the decision ordering the dismissal from service of former UP Manila chancellor Manuel Agulto and former vice chancellor for administration and finance Joselito Jamir for grave misconduct, a document released by UP Manila’s student newspaper The Manila Collegian showed.

The penalty also carried the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits except from accrued leave credits, and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by 168 Security and Allied Services Inc. (SASI) in December 2013 against Agulto and Jamir for illegally pre-terminating their contract for security services despite their “very satisfactory rating.”

They also accused the two officials of engaging the services of another security firm, in the amount of P46.71 million, without a public bidding.

In their joint counter-affidavit, the two former UP Manila officials said a “confluence of events showing serious security lapses” affected the trust and confidence of the university toward SASI.

They said they secured the services of a new security firm to prevent a hiatus and to take over the security of the campus under the same terms and conditions as that of SASI.

However, in her decision dated Oct. 13, Assistant Ombudsman Jennifer Jardin-Manalili said the fact that SASI continued to provide security services for UP Manila until July 2013 negated the respondent’s claims that there was an imminent interruption of services.

The assistant ombudsman noted that the “procedural lapses and disregard of the procurement law” committed by Agulto and Jamir are tantamount to serious breach of duty.

Carpio-Morales approved the decision on Oct. 24.

Meanwhile, the ombudsman dismissed for lack of substantial evidence the abuse of authority and oppression charges filed against Agulto and Jamir.

The two former officials have yet to issue a statement over the decision, which was releaseD weeks after Agulto ended his term as UP Manila’s top official.