UP Diliman dean convicted of ethics breach, to pay P5K fine

A former dean of the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was found guilty of ethical breach for getting the services of a catering business owned by him and his wife.

In a statement on Thursday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it secured the conviction of former Dean Hercules Callanta for violation of Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act 6713.

Callanta was tried and convicted by the Branch 36 of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) of Quezon City for approving the payment to “The Lord’s Inheritance Catering,” a business owned by him and his wife.

The court ordered Callanta to pay a fine of P5,000.

Callanta was found guilty for engaging the services of his family’s catering business during the college summer recreation program in 2007.

Ombudsman prosecutors presented as evidence the disbursement voucher worth P6,300 bearing Callanta’s signature.

According to the court, Callanta approved the payment to his family’s catering business when he signed the disbursement voucher.

“(T)he accused, as Dean and approving authority for payment, knowingly signed the disbursement voucher for the catering services of The Lord’s Inheritance Catering Service during the May 26, 2007 Summer Recreation Program in the amount of P6,300 organized and sponsored by the CHK,” the court said.

“Without such signature, the disbursement voucher could not be processed for payment by the UP Diliman Accounting Office, and the May 26, 2007 transaction would not have been paid,” the court added.

The court belied Callanta’s defense of good faith in ensuring that all documents were in order, because the transaction under the ethics code is prohibited owing to “his position as Dean (agency head) in a public university; (and) his and his wife’s ownership and business interest in The Lord’s Inheritance Catering Service.”

The court said the irregular transaction was consummated because of the approval from his office.

According to Section 7(a) of the ethics code, public officials and employees shall not, directly or indirectly, have any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office. je