Ombud charges Badian warehouse officer

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayas Ombudsman recommended  the filing of a criminal case for malversation of public property and administrative case of grave misconduct against the warehouse officer of the National Food Authority for the lost sacks of rice amounting to P10.6 million.

After the shortage was reported in the media last year, the anti-graft office conducted a preliminary investigation against Senior Grains Operations Officer Benedicto Bernal, the warehouse officer of NFA Badian.

“Wherefore, premises considered, this Office finds enough grounds to upgrade the instant case for further proceedings, into a criminal case for malversation of public property with corresponding administrative case for grave misconduct against Senior Grains Operations Officer Benedicto Bernal,” graft investigator Lou Pagaran-Tila said in her five-page final evaluation report.

During the preliminary investigation, Tila summoned Regional Director of NFA-7 Atty. Efren Sabong on January 2, 2013 to submit the necessary documents pertaining to the alleged shortage.

Sabong submitted the documents on January 14, 2013.  In their joint-affidavit, the inventory team said they were directed to conduct an actual bag-to-bag weighing of stocks.

Based on the final liquidation summary, Bernal has a net shortage of 1,027 pieces of empty sacks amounting to P7,240.35 from March 16, 2007 to June 1, 2012.

On October 15, 2012, NFA Provincial Manager Nestor Rey Alcoseba issued a

demand letter to the respondent to produce the shortage amounting to P10.6 million within 15 days but Bernal failed.

Based on the aforementioned evidence, Tila said the elements of malversation of public property and grave misconduct were established after Bernal failed to produce the shortage demand.

NFA has 16 warehouses in Region-7 and eight are in Cebu located in Banilad, Tudela in Camotes Island, Badian, Santa Fe in Bantayan Island and Bogo City.

Cebu City has two warehouses, one in the North Reclamation Area and another in Barangay Mambaling.  (FREEMAN)