Ombudsman approves filing of graft raps vs Tesda North Cotabato chief

Office of the Ombudsman. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net file photo

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against the North Cotabato provincial chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and several other persons in connection with the accreditation of a training school here in 2009.

In her order dated February 25, a copy of which was only recently furnished to the Inquirer, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Florante Herrera and Tesda focal persons Alex Labanon and Frank Beltran “falsified documents to make it appear” that Kidapawan Assessment and Training Center (KATC) had complied with the requirements for accreditation as a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution.

Morales said Herrera also caused the approval and release of P3.47 million to KATC even though the training school lacked qualifications such as track record, capitalization, experienced instructors.

KATC, according to Morales’ order, also did not have facilities, tools and equipment for the software development courses and heavy equipment operation training it offered.

“Several pictures were also presented showing that the course on software development was held in an Internet café,” the order reads.

What was also baffling, Morales said, was “unusual haste in the approval of KATC’s application, which was done barely a few weeks after incorporation, and in the release of payments.”

KATC, based on the facts of the case, incorporated on March 5, 2009. It filed its TVET application on March 24, 2009 and got approval on April 3 of the same year.

“On 04 May 2009, Tesda released its first payment of P102,900 and by the end of July 2009, KATC was paid a total of P3,472,200,” Morales’ order said.

In 2010, KATC shut down its operation.

Aside from Herrera and the two Tesda focal persons, KATC officials Salli Vee Salvanera, Rolando Ortiz, Michael Angelo Orsonal, Eldura Cabacungan, Aurora Nesperos, Rizalito Nesperos and Ervin Biongan were also slapped with charges in relation to the Anti-Graft Law.

Reacting to the charge, Herrera maintained he did not violate any law.

He said KATC was able to comply with all the requirements before being given accreditation.

He said Tesda personnel had conducted ocular inspections and ruled that KATC had the capacity to implement the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) program.

He said KATC was also the only school that had registered programs on Career Entry for Computer Software Development, (CECSD) for Java, Microsoft Net and Oracle, among courses that were allowed under the PGS.

“Not a single centavo of the said amount went to our pockets,” Herrera said.

As to the closure of the school, Herrera said he learned that it was due to mismanagement.

He said at the time of its closure, KATC had served all scholars Tesda had entrusted it for training.