Sacked CHR exec indicted

State prosecutors have formally charged dismissed Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Cecilia Rachel “Coco” Quisumbing for allegedly keeping for herself the salary raise of a promoted employee.

Quisumbing faces charges of graft, direct bribery and ethical violation filed before the Sandiganbayan.

According to the charge sheets, Quisumbing caused the promotion of her coterminous staff Ma. Regina Eugenio to administrative assistant III from the position of administration aide VI. This supposedly disregarded the Civil Commission’s rules on merit and promotion.

In exchange, Quisumbing allegedly demanded the salary differentials amounting to P41,292.85 from January to July 2013.

Quisumbing is accused of direct bribery and soliciting or accepting gifts.

Dismissal

Eugenio, who lodged the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, is among the witnesses to be presented by the prosecution. The charge sheets recommended that bail for three criminal cases be fixed at P60,000.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales had  ordered Quisumbing’s dismissal on Aug. 28, 2014, after finding her guilty of violating the Code of Conduct. The Court of Appeals upheld her decision in an August 2015 ruling.