2 NBDB execs ordered sacked

Acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio has ordered the dismissal from government service of two ranking officials of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) for allegedly illegally diverting P87,903.75 in cash advances.

Gervacio said Nellie Apolonio and Rogelio Montealto, NBDB executive director and administrative and finance chief, respectively, should be dismissed for "grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct grossly prejudicial to the best interest of the service."

He cited findings by the Administrative Adjudication Bureau that the two executives allegedly spent P87,903.75 of the P88,000 they got as cash advances for food and other expenditures of an in-house, team-building workshop, on SM gift certificates.

Apolonio and Montealto, according to Gervacio, bought the gift checks without authorization from the NBDB board, and distributed them to the workshop participants.

In another development, the Ombudsman has filed three counts of alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Mayor Ramon Talaga of Lucena City (Quezon) for ordering the closure of the bingo business of a recreation company which the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) had granted an authority to operate.

Records showed that Talaga, upon his assumption as Lucena mayor on May 25, 2000, issued an order temporarily shutting down the bingo operations of Elan Recreation Inc., owned by Raymundo Nazario.

Talaga claimed that Elan had no business permit, a franchise to operate from the city council and a barangay clearance.

The reviewing prosecutor, Gervacio said, was convinced that Talaga committed graft because "he did not send any notice first to Elan to give it an opportunity to comply with the said requirements."

Talaga’s move caused Elan to suffer undue losses amounting to more than P8 million.

Gervacio added that the Lucena mayor allegedly gave unwarranted benefit to a certain Jose Sybang when he approved the latter’s franchise to operate bingo, under Ordinance No. 7160, 11 days after he closed down Elan’s bingo business.