FILE PHOTO: Former Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Hermenegildo Serafica during the continuation of the joint hybrid hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee and the committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform on the alleged irregular sugar importation order, Tuesday, August 30, 2022. (Joseph Vidal and Voltaire F. Domingo / Senate PRIB)
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against Hermenegildo Serafica, former administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), for violating the country’s procurement laws. In a 21-page joint resolution approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Aug. 7, antigraft prosecutors said they found probable cause to file charges against Serafica in connection with the 2017 procurement of farming equipment. Serafica was also found guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty for failing to award the contract on time, and issue the notice of proceed and comply with the given procurement periods. The complaint against Serafica, filed by a certain Josephino Agosto, stemmed from the procurement of 25 units of Ripper Harrowers. According to the complaint, Serafica “intentionally and deliberately held up and delayed” the release of the notice to proceed for more than two years. —Dempsey reyes