MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the head of Cagayan State University (CSU) due to grave misconduct, and charged him for malversation, indirect bribery, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In a 9-page joint resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said CSU President Roger Perez used government materials, equipment, laborers, and electricity to build steel windows and a steel staircase in his own residence. 

During several occasions in August 2006, records and security logbooks showed that laborers delivered materials and equipment from the CSU warehouse to Perez’s house. 

Meanwhile, in March 2006, CSU paid the Freyssinet Filipinas Corporation P2,385,765 ($46,451.81) for the pre-cast gutter of the school gymnasium.

After the construction, Perez was found to have received a check issued in his name amounting to P140,400 ($2733.64).

Ombudsman Morales said “Perez’s singular act of receipt and acceptance of money is not sanctioned at all by law…the receipt itself (by respondent) from a corporation doing business in which he was President is prohibited by the law governing conflict-of interest situations.”

Section 3-b of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act prohibits public officials to directly or indirectly request or receive “any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit,” related to any government contract or transaction.

Section 3-e of the same law considers it a corrupt practice when a public officer gives “any private party an unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference…through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

Perez will also be penalized with the following:

• cancellation of eligibility 
• perpetual disqualification from holding public office
• forfeiture of retirement benefits
• bar from taking civil service examinations

– Rappler.com

(US$1: P51.36 in March 1, 2006)