Former CAAP exec ordered arrested

The Sandiganbayan. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of former Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Director for Operations Daniel A. Dimagiba for two pending cases of graft.

The Sandiganbayan First Division issued the arrest warrant and a hold departure order against Dimagiba after it found probable cause to try him on charges he exerted undue influence on aviation inspectors to give passing grades to two flight school students who flunked the pilot proficiency flight check. Another case alleges he granted an air carrier operating certificate to One Sky Aviation Services Inc. despite its lack of documentary requirements.

The arrest warrant came a little over two weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the two graft cases against Dimagiba based on a complaint of former CAAP Director General Ruben Ciron.

The Ombudsman has also filed a case of graft against five Philippine Air Force (PAF) officials led by former Brig.Gen. Francisco C. Callelero for tapping a private contractor to renovate a military dental center without the requisite public bidding.

In an 11-page resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the five officers, signatories in three contracts for the P5-million rehabilitation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Dental Service Center and 1351st Dental Clinic, “took advantage of their official positions and private respondents connived to do away with the mandated public bidding for their personal benefit and to the disadvantage of the government.”