Photo courtesy Rappler
THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of the head of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) after he was found guilty of grave misconduct in connection with the bureau’s purchase of transmitters and transceivers six years ago to fight illegal fishing activities.
BFAR Director Demosthenes Escoto was meted the penalty of dismissal in connection with the procurement of transmitters and transceivers to be used by the bureau’s Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. tapped Isidro Velayo Jr. as officer in charge of the bureau after Escoto’s dismissal.
According to the Ombudsman, Escoto gave unwarranted benefit to SRT-United Kingdom (UK) by permitting its subsidiary, SRT-France, to take part in the bidding even though it was ineligible, and then belatedly canceling the contract.
Later, the bidding was eventually won by SRT-UK.
“His actions as Chairman of the bids and awards committee culminated in the award of a very favorable contract to SRT-UK. In this contract, the government was made to assume a contractual obligation way beyond what was asked for,” the Ombudsman said.
“As mentioned, instead of purchasing merely 3,736 units of VMS Transceivers, he agreed to compel the government to procure 5,000 units of these items. This is a contractual obligation that is grossly disadvantageous to the government and unreasonably beneficial to SRT-UK,” it added.
The administrative charge against former Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Hansel Didulo was dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.
The penalty of dismissal also carries with it the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
