DAR exec faces raps for tuna extort

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft and bribery charges yesterday against a provincial official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for allegedly extorting money and tuna in exchange for a favorable decision in a case he was handling.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved the filing of a criminal complaint against Kidapawan City regional agrarian reform adjudicator Henry Gelacio for direct bribery and violation of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

Gelacio also faces charges for violation of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Eduardito Garbo, a tenant-farmer who claimed that Gelacio solicited and accepted bribe money totaling P120,000 and tuna, in exchange for the issuance of temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction in connection with a case that he and other tenant-farmers filed that the DAR official handled. 

Ombudsman probers were told that Garbo and other tenant-farmers sold their farm animals and equipment to raise the amount Gelacio demanded from them.

Morales said Gelacio “compromised the performance of the duties reposed upon an adjudicator,” adding that his actions were a “prostitution of public position.”

The Office of the Ombudsman noted that Section 3(e) of RA 3019 prohibits public officials from performing official duties with partiality, evident bad faith or gross neglect, causing undue injury to the government or any private party or which would give any party unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference.  

Section 7(d) of RA 6713 prohibits public officials and employees from “soliciting or accepting any gift, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties which may be affected by the functions of their office.”