Ronnie Ricketts charged with graft over seized pirated discs

Ronnie Rickets, chair of the Optical Media Board (OMB). RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a graft charge against Optical Media Board (OMB) chair Ronnie Ricketts for allegedly allowing the pull out of seized pirated DVDs that would have served as evidence against suspected counterfeiters.

In the graft charge filed before the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, graft investigators from the Ombudsman said Ricketts in May 2010 gave undue preference to Sky High Marketing Corp. when he ordered the confiscation of pirated DVDs (digital video discs) and VCDs (video compact discs) from the firm’s office only to have the evidence withdrawn.

The Ombudsman said no charges were filed against Sky High to the “detriment of public interest.”

On May 27, 2010, the OMB seized 127 boxes and two sacks of pirated DVDs, VCDs and a video recording human I.P.C. Its agents also arrested three Chinese nationals during the raid in Quiapo, Manila.

The seized items were brought to the OMB office in the afternoon but were pulled out in the evening of the same day without any approved gate pass.

The items, which could have served as evidence against Sky High, were reportedly loaded onto an Isuzu Elf Truck owned by company.

The Ombudsman filed one count of graft each against Ricketts and former Executive Director Cyrus Paul Valenzuela, Head of the Enforcement and Inspection Division (EID) Manuel Mangubat, Investigation Agent I Joseph Arnaldo and Computer Operator Glenn Perez.

“(The accused), while in the performance of their official functions as such, taking advantage thereof and committing the offense in relation to office, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and criminally give unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to Sky High Marketing Corp. thru manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence,” the Ombudsman said.

Graft investigators said Rickett’s order to pull out the pirated DVDs and VCDs “compromised the pieces of evidence that could support the case/s that should have been filed against (Sky High)” for alleged violation of Republic Act 9239 or the OMB Act of 2003.

The actions of the OMB officers proved detrimental to public interest,” the probers said.

Earlier, in August 2014, the Ombudsman slapped a six-month suspension on Ricketts and his co-accused pending a preliminary investigation for neglect of duty in connection with the Sky High case.