5 PRC execs indicted over office lease

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has approved the filing of graft charges against five Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) officials over alleged anomalies in its 2012 lease contract for its regional office in Baguio City.

The case arose from the PRC’s approval of a 15-month lease contract and the payment of P6.6 million to CTLL Building along Kisad Road from December 2012 to December 2013.

Investigators found that the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) had no copies of any request for expression of interests, request for quotation, and performance of warranties and securities.

The BAC did not even have a copy of the resolution recommending the award of the contract, as well as the notice of award itself.

Facing criminal charges for violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are the following former PRC officials: Chair Teresita Manzala, Commissioner Alfredo Po and Supervising Professional Regulations Officer Tricia Camara.

Criminal charges were also approved against two incumbent PRC officials: then-Cordillera Administrative Region Director Teofilo Gaius Sison, Jr., and then-Chief Professional Regulations Officer Sarah Edna Tabije.