Lung Center exec says raps vs him already junked
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:55:00 01/30/2008
MANILA, Philippines – The Director of the Lung Center of the Philippines who was ordered removed from his post on allegations of graft has questioned the filling of charges against him.
Dr. Juanito Rubio is asking how the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission could file charges against him at the Office of the Ombudsman when the latter had already dismissed “an eerily identical” complaint against him.
In an interview the other day, Rubio said that hospital employees and former LCP Employees Association president Dr. Guillermo Madlang-Awa also brought the complaint against him to the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.
According to him, the complaint was dismissed by both the Ombudsman and OGCC.
“They (complainants) have made a habit out of removing directors here at the Lung Center,” Rubio said, adding that his predecessors at the hospital were also relieved from their posts.
The LCP director claimed that the “concerned employees” of the hospital lodged graft complaints against previous directors at will and may have grown accustomed to getting their way.
“They could have simply asked me to go and I would not question it but to say that I stole as the reason for my removal is too much,” Rubio said.
According to him, he has maintained a clean slate during his more than 30 years in government service and it would be “unimaginable and the peak of stupidity to do such things just when I am at the sunset of my life.”
On Dec. 14 last year, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita signed an order dismissing Rubio from government service based on the recommendation of the PAGC.
The PAGC had recommended that criminal charges be filed against Rubio for violating procurement laws when he entered into a contract with the Innova Design Systems and Equipment Corp. and CICG International Trade Corp. for the construction of an art gallery and a piece of glass sculpture.
According to the PAGC, there was no “unforeseen contingency requiring the immediate construction of the art gallery and glass sculpture, nor are these ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment contemplated by law.”
The PAGC also alleged that Rubio violated RA 9184 when he purchased medicine and equipment through a contract with the New San Jose Builders Inc. without first conducting a bidding.
The dismissal order, however, has not been implemented pending Rubio’s filing of an appeal.
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