TIM eMagazine Issue 4 | Page 11

TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 4 Ombudsman junks the motion for reconsideration for the dismissal of cases filed against marina officials T he Office of the Ombudsman denied the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the Nelson P. Ramirez, President of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), as the Complainant-Movant, to reconsider the dismissal of the criminal and administrative complaints filed against MARINA Officials. In a Joint Order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales denied the Motion for Reconsideration asserting that the present Motion does not present any newly discovered evidence or meritorious material arguments to warrant a reconsideration of the assailed Joint Resolution dated 04 June 2016. She stressed that neither does it show that grave errors of law or serious irregularities were committed by the Ombudsman prejudicial to Complainant-Movant’s interest. The dismissed complaints were filed by Nelson P. Ramirez against public respondents, MARINA Administrator Maximo Q Mejia Jr, DeputyAdministrator and Primary Bids and Award Committee (PBAC) Chairperson, Atty. Gloria J. Victoria-Bañas, BAC members: Atty. Bashirudin U. Adil, Ma.Concepcion C. Arbolario, Arnie F. Santiago, Sonia B. Malaluan, Atty. Maria Rowena B. Hubilla;BACTechnical Working Group members: Nenita Atienza, Fe M. Calaoagan, Cristine D. San Luisand private respondent, Jaime H. Aldaba, Executive Vice President and General Manager, APOProduction Unit Inc. (APO) for violation of Section 3 (e) and (g), Republic Act (RA) 3019, asamended (The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Republic Act 9184, (GovernmentProcurement Act) and Republic Act 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007) for the criminal case; andadministrative case for Dishonesty, Grave Abuse of Authority, Conduct Prejudicial to the BestInterest of the Service, and Gross Neglect of Duty for all aforementioned MARINA Officials, with the exclusion of Jaime H. Aldaba of APO. The complaints alleged that the respondents committed the said offenses when they awarded the contract for the printing, supply and delivery of Seafarers Identification Record Book (SIRB) to APO without any supporting BAC Resolution. He further claimed that the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between MARINA and APO downgraded the features of the SIRB by removing the symbology and security features, among others. In the Joint Resolution, the Ombudsman enunciated that with regard to the charge of violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3109, as amended, Complainant failed to establish that the respondents acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable