Graft raps filed vs Gordon for ‘misuse’ of P388M at SBMA

Charges of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were filed recently against former SBMA Chairman and now Tourism Secretary Richard J. Gordon and other ex-SBMA officials for alleged illegal disbursement of government funds totaling almost P400 million after the Commission on Audit disallowed with finality Gordon’s unliquidated expenses incurred during his administration.

The complaint was filed by Antonio Mendoza, SBMA internal audit service department manager, before the Office of Ombudsman Aniano Desierto in compliance with state auditing law.

In his complaint-affidavit, Mendoza stressed the charges against Gordon and company which involve the total amount of P387 million, is only a part of the staggering P855 million in illegal disbursements of the respondent that was concluded with finality by COA as "disallowed" expenditures.

The COA ruling is final and executory and under the law became a personal liability of the respondents.

The P855 million in disallowances, Mendoza explained, involved verified expenditures and illegal disbursement of public funds from 1992 to 1998.

Part of this were supposedly disbursed for personnel services amounting to P109 million in 1996; P135 million in 1994 and P142.8 million in 1995.

Charged together with Gordon were former SBMA officials Julie Reyes, Treasurer; Manuel Quijano, Personnel Officer; Leticia Doropan, Personnel Manager; Teresita Fallorina, Accountant IV and Armin Raquiel-Santos, Deputy Administrator for Finance.

It will be recalled that the Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption (PCAGC) headed by Eufemio Domingo recommended to then President Ramos in April 1998 Gordon’s dismissal from the service after he was found guilty of grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross incompetence, among others, for his utter failure as chairman of the board and administrator of the SBMA to account for the millions of pesos poured by the government into the SBMA as detailed in the 1993 COA Annual Audit Report.