Former NPDC officials face graft raps

MANILA, Philippines - The three former directors of the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) are facing multiple graft cases for allegedly paying a total of P87.25 million to a private company for security services without conducting the necessary public bidding.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan on Jan. 23, the cases against former NPDC executive director Carlito Fajardo involve six counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Former NPDC acting executive director Salome Habal and former executive director Jaime Recio, meanwhile, was charged with two counts and one count, respectively, of the same offense.

The ombudsman alleged that a total of P87.25 million in payments were made by the respondents from 2004 to 2010 to Variance Protective and Security Agency for the security services it supposedly rendered.

The ombudsman said no public bidding was held before the NPDC availed of Variance’s services in violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, and thereby giving “unwarranted benefits” to the company while causing undue injury to the government.

The ombudsman set Fajardo’s bail at P180,000, while Habal’s bail was set at P60,000 and Recio’s at P30,000.