SBMA reinstates execs cleared of graft raps

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has reinstated two dismissed officials after the Office of the Ombudsman cleared them of graft charges in connection with a port operations deal in this free port.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Ramon Agregado and SBMA Deputy Administrator Marcelino Sanqui have officially taken back their respective positions on March 17, almost a year after they were dismissed by the Ombudsman for violation of the antigraft and corrupt practices law and for grave misconduct.

In a Feb. 3 omnibus order that was released this month, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dropped “for lack of merit” the complaints filed by two major cargo operators against Agregado, Sanqui and 16 former

SBMA officials. Morales’ order set aside an April 3, 2014, Ombudsman resolution which said there was probable cause to pursue the graft cases against the SBMA employees.

The charges stemmed from a 25-year joint-venture agreement (JVA) between

the SBMA and Harbour Centre for the development, operation and management of the naval supply depot and the ports in Boton, Alava, Rivera and Bravo inside the free port.

The P6-billion JVA, which was signed in February 2010, would have made Subic the biggest industrial port and logistics hub in Northern Luzon.

In May 2010, Amerasia International Terminal Services Inc. and Subic Seaport Terminal Inc. filed separate complaints against the SBMA and Harbour Centre, arguing that the deal created a monopoly.

The complainants also said the JVA was grossly disadvantageous to the government. They claimed that Harbour Centre did not meet the technical and financial qualifications set by the National Economic and Development Authority guidelines on joint ventures.

“The SBMA’s act of signing the JVA is irregular, but insufficient to constitute manifest partiality or evident bad faith…,” Morales said in her order.

Aside from Agregado and Sanqui, also cleared of graft charges were former SBMA Chair Feliciano Salonga, former Administrator Armand Arreza, former Senior Deputy Administrator Ferdinand Hernandez, former Deputy Administrator Ma. Cristina Millan, and former board members Edralino Cajudo, Antonio Rex Chan, Ricardo Coscolluela, Angelita DJ Cruz, Teodoro del Rosario, Jorge Estanislao, Ma. Angela Garcia, James Lorenzana, Ma. Victoria Pineda, Stefani Saño, Jennifer Khonghun-Ting and Eddie Tamondong. Businessmen Reghis Romero II and Michael Romero, chair and CEO, respectively, of Harbour Centre, were also cleared by Morales.

SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia said his office received the copy of the order only on March 17. “We welcome the decision clearing all former [SBMA] board officers of criminal and administrative liability. We welcome back the senior deputy administrators dismissed,” he said in a text message. Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon