DoJ recommends filing of criminal case vs PRC exec

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday recommended before the Ombudsman the filing of a criminal case against Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Alfredo Po.

In an inquest resolution approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the DoJ recommended the filing of robbery, direct bribery and violation of the Anti-Graft Law charges against Po.

Po was arrested last week at his office in Manila by members of the National Bureau of Investigation in an entrapment operation for demanding P394,000 as his commission for the rentals being paid by PRC for a leased building. He refused to answer the allegation of extortion against him.

During the entrapment operation by the NBI’s Counter-terrorism Unit on Dec. 5, Po allegedly received marked money inside his PRC office.

Based on the affidavit-complaint of Atty. Ernesto Delos Santos, Po demanded for a monthly “commission” of P42,800 for the lease of Delos Santos’ CTLL Bldg. in Baguio City to the PRC. After allegedly having received a total of P126,000 from Delos Santos, Po allegedly asked for a one-time P394,000 “broker’s commission.”

“In this case, respondent Po clearly accepted the money as a consideration for the performance of his official functions as a commissioner of the PRC… respondent Po used his authority over complainant Delos Santos to ‘extort’ money from the latter.

“The use of the respondent’s position as commissioner of the PRC can be deemed as a use of intimidation in order to gain from the complainant,” the resolution stated.