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The Workplace of the Ombudsman says former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources nationwide director Eduardo Gongona didn’t current new proof that might reverse the indictment
MANILA, Philippines – The Workplace of the Ombudsman junked the movement for reconsideration filed by former agriculture undersecretary and former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources (BFAR) nationwide director Eduardo Gongona on its determination to indict him, together with two others, for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The 13-page ruling, a replica of which was offered to the media over the weekend, was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on October 2.
The Ombudsman stated Gongona didn’t current new proof that might reverse the indictment.
“The arguments he has put forth have both been already thought of or handed upon within the assailed decision, or higher ventilated throughout trial than on the preliminary investigation degree,” the choice learn.
Demosthenes Escoto, dismissed BFAR nationwide director who was beforehand chairman of the bureau’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), and Simon Tucker, chief government officer of United Kingdom-based SRT Marine Techniques Options, had been additionally indicted together with Gongona.
The case stemmed from a grievance filed in 2022 by lawyer James Mier Victoriano on alleged irregularities within the procurement of transmitters and transceivers for BFAR’s Built-in Marine Atmosphere Monitoring System Undertaking Section II (PHILO) undertaking. The grievance stated respondents brought about the lack of monetary help from the French authorities, paid P722.639 million to SRT-UK with out full paperwork, and bought an extreme variety of transceivers.
BFAR’s PHILO undertaking was for the implementation of its Vessel Monitoring System, which goals to observe the placement and exercise of business fishing vessels at sea with a view to curb unlawful fishing.
The undertaking was alleged to be financed by a 28.52-million-euro (P1.75 billion) mortgage from the French authorities, which in flip required bidders to be French or in a three way partnership with a French firm.
It was SRT-France, a subsidiary of SRT-UK, that gained the bidding in 2017. However the French authorities identified that SRT-France was ineligible — it was nonetheless owned by a British agency and it had no manufacturing services or any enterprise actions based mostly in France.
The Ombudsman famous it was Gongona who initiated the cancellation of the mortgage from the French authorities with none clear cause. BFAR requested funding from the Division of Price range and Administration, which then granted the company P2.09 billion for the PHILO undertaking.
The scope of the undertaking then expanded — apart from procuring 2,500 two-way satellite tv for pc VMS transmitters for catcher vessels and 1,000 one-way satellite tv for pc transmitters, the chosen firm would additionally need to get 5,000 VMS transceivers for industrial vessels and satellite tv for pc companies for the undertaking.
It was SRT-UK that gained the second bidding in 2018.
Gongona claimed he didn’t know that SRT-France was ineligible and stated he relied on the endorsements made by the BAC and technical working group. However the Ombudsman rejected this, saying, “It seems that as early because the time of bidding, he was already conscious of the attainable defects within the eligibility of SRT-France.” – Rappler.com
