Ex-DOLE officer gets 16 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines - A former officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was sentenced to serve a maximum of 16 years in prison for graft, estafa and falsification of public documents, the Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday.

Martin dela Merced III was found guilty by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Reynaldo Ros of demanding and receiving P7,000 from a private individual in exchange for the issuance of a falsified occupational safety and health practitioner certificate of accreditation on Feb. 22, 2006.

Complainant Rudy Cariaga, vice president and treasurer of a security agency, said he met Dela Merced, who used the name Arnold Cruz, in a bidding event in which his security firm participated.

One week after submitting the requirements, Cariaga claimed he received a text message from Dela Merced informing him that his application for accreditation was denied.

The former DOLE officer then allegedly offered to “fix” his requirements in exchange for P12,000, which he later lowered to P7,000.

In his ruling, Ros said the prosecution was able to prove that the accused falsified the signature of an official in the certificate of accreditation, which he used to deceive Cariaga.