Suspended Coast Guard top official says he was just doing his duty

President Benigno Aquino III and Philippine Coast Guard Vice Admiral Edmund Tan (left) in a photo taken during the observation of Holy Week this year. Tan is suspended by the Sandiganbayan for a graft case. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines—Suspended commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, explained he was just doing his duty when he held the departure of a barge containing iron ores in Cebu three years ago, which he said was the basis of the graft case that caused his 90-day suspension as ordered by the Sandiganbayan.

“The barge had no anchor and it is against the Philippine Merchant Marine rules and regulations. Any vessel can’t leave the port if it has no anchor. It’s like a car without break. Safety precautions, right? The owner of the shipping company didn’t complain because they knew they were wrong. It was the owner of the iron ores who filed a complaint,” Tan said in an interview Thursday over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

He said prior to the 90-day suspension, there was an earlier 9-month suspension order.  The case was dismissed by the Ombudsman but the Sandiganbayan ruled otherwise.

“I was just performing my duty and I maintain my innocence. They keep on saying it’s a graft case because I didn’t gain anything,” he said. Tan added his lawyers are about to file a Motion for Reconsideration at the anti-graft body.

“But I still respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan,” he added.

For the full interview, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer 990AM.