Iniutos ng Office of the Ombudsman na isailalim sa anim na buwan na suspensyon si Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Jeremiah Belgica at apat na iba pang opisyal kaugnay ng reklamo ng isang telecommunications company.
Pinirmahan ni Ombudsman Samuel Martires ang kautusan nitong Hunyo 2, 2022 kung saan pinasususpindi rin sina ARTA Deputy Director General Eduardo Bringas, Division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, Director Jedrek Ng at Director Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.
Nahaharap na sa imbestigasyon ang limang opisyal sa reklamong grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service matapos silang akusahan ni DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano ng paglabag sa Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
“Thus, in order to secure the documents and to prevent possible harassment of witnesses and considering further that their continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against them, they are hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period of 6 months pursuant to Section 24 or Republic Act No. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989),” ayon sa anti-graft agency.
Ilocos Norte, niyanig ng magnitude 4.0 na lindol
Sinabi ng Ombudsman na noong Marso 1, 2021 ay naglabas ng resolusyon ang ARTA at order of automatic approval na nag-aatas sa National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na magbigay ng frequencies sa NOW Telecom Company, Inc. bilang ikatlong major player sa telecommunications industry.
Gayunman, nauna nang naglabas ng memorandum circular ang NTC noong Setyembre 20, 2018 para sa selection process ng bagong major player. Napili ang DITO sa nasabing proseso.
Noong Mayo 18, 2020, nagreklamo sa ARTA ang NOW kaugnay ng automatic approval ng kanilang kahilingan para sa frequency assignment na ibinigay na sa DITO. Partikular na inireklamo sa ARTA si NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordova.
“The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondents Jeremiah B. Belgica, Eduardo V. Bringas, Sheryl Pura Sumagui, Jedrek C. Ng and Melamy A. Salvadora-Asperin is strong and the charges against them involve grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service which may warrant removal from the service,” dagdag pa ng Ombudsman.
Ipinadala na ang kopya ng kautusan kay Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea upang maipatupad na ito laban sa limang opisyal.
