Ex-vice mayor took CSC exam for cop

MANILA, Philippines -  For allegedly trying to trick the Civil Service Commission (CSC) into granting him civil service eligibility by allowing someone else to take the exam for him, the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the dismissal from the service of a police officer and the filing of appropriate charges against him.

The man who took the test for PO1 Melvin Villocero who turned out to be a former vice mayor of Brookes Point, Palawan, was also found guilty of serious dishonesty.

In a five-page ruling, Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said both committed administrative offenses which warrant penalties, including disqualification from employment in any branch, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations.

Records show that in October 1997, Villocero made Danilo Chan take the civil service exam held at the Palawan National High School in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan where he got a passing rate of 83.78 percent.

The deceit was discovered based on the CSC’s seat plan, which showed Chan sitting on Villocero’s seat.

Chan denied the accusation, saying it was illogical for him to accommodate Villocero for moral and legal reasons.

However, Gutierrez said the former vice mayor failed to convince the Ombudsman “by clear and convincing evidence” that he was not indeed the person who took the CSC exam on Oct. 19, 1997 for Villocero and “that the photo as appearing in the seat plan was not his.”

Gutierrez ordered the filing of falsification charges against both Villocero and Chan before the courts.