Malacañang implements Ombudsman order suspending ARTA officials

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has implemented the Office of the Ombudsman’s order placing officials of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) under preventive suspension for six months.

A memorandum dated Jun 7 and signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea directed the Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance of ARTA, Undersecretary Carlos Quita to serve a copy of the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension order to ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica, Deputy Director-Deneral Eduardo Bringas, Division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, and Directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.

The memorandum, which was made public on Monday, also instructed Quita to submit a compliance report and certifications to the Office of the Ombudsman and Office of the President.

The Ombudsman in an order dated May 24 placed Belgica, Bringas, Pura-Sumagui, Ng, and Salvadora-Asperin under a six-month preventive suspension for alleged graft.

READ: Ombudsman suspends ARTA chief, 4 other execs for 6 months

The Ombudsman’s directive stressed that the suspension order is not a punishment but a way “to secure the documents and to prevent possible harassment of witnesses” as their continued duty may prejudice the case against them. The Ombudsman noted “strong evidence of guilt” in the pending administrative charges against the respondents.

A complaint filed by DITO Telecommunity alleged that ARTA officials violated Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Belgica earlier explained that the case began when they issued an Order of Automatic Approval to NOWTelecom after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) did not provide the frequencies to the telco firm despite granting the company’s request for the issuance of provisional authority to install, operate, and maintain a mobile telecommunications system and “a provisional authority to operate a fixed wired broadband access for wireless communications network.”

The NTC did not provide the frequencies to NOWTelecom mainly due to unpaid dues to the government amounting to P2.6 billion. The debt is from unpaid Supervision and Regulation Fees and Spectrum User Fees, as well as accumulated fines and penalties.

But NOWTelecom sought the help of ARTA, which eventually released the Order of Automatic Approval. Thereafter, Dito Telecommunity lodged a complaint before the Ombudsman.

Dito Telecommunity claimed that the five ARTA officials favored and provided special treatment to another telecommunications firm in the selection of a new major player in the industry.

Belgica and the four other officials have lodged a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman, noting that ARTA acted within the limits of its mandate under Republic Act No. 11032 Section 10 or the Ease of Doing Business Law.

Following the ARTA officials’ suspension, Malacañang designated ARTA deputy director-general Undersecretary Ernesto Perez as the officer-in-charge of the agency.

This photo shows the copy of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea’s June 7, 2022, memorandum in relation to the implementation of the preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on May 24, 2022, against five officials of the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

KGA