The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a six-month preventive suspension of the five officials of the Office of the President's Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for their involvement in a graft case in favoring a new telco player in the country.
In an order dated May 24 but was only made public over the weekend, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered the suspension of ARTA officials led by Director General Jeremiah Belgica, Deputy Director-General Eduardo Bringas, Division Chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, Director Jedreck Ng, and Director Melamy Salvadora-Asperin for their involvement in "grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service."
The suspension comes after DITO Telecommunity Inc. filed a case against ARTA for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after its official allegedly gave preferential treatment to NOW Telecom Company Inc. in choosing the New Major Player (NMP) in the country’s telecom industry, which was conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
NOW Telecom previously made headlines for its failure to participate in the publicized selection process of the country’s third telco due to incomplete requirements.
With less than a month left in the outgoing administration’s term, the penalty shall be converted into a fine in an amount equivalent to the respondent's salary during the period of the suspension payable to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman’s order was transmitted to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last June 3.
