(Eagle News) — Former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has been barred from holding any position in government.
This was after the Ombudsman found Alcala guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in two separate cases involving incidents that took place when he was agriculture secretary.
In a statement on Monday, the Ombudsman said Alcala was “found liable for the misuse of P13.5 million for the construction of the Quezon Corn Trading and Processing Center,” and for “illegally allowing the (Department of Agriculture) to resort to the alternative method of repeat order despite the agency’s failure to comply with the requirements under the Government Procurement Act.”
In the first case, the Ombudsman took to task Alcala for authorizing the transfer of P13.5 million for the construction of the Quezon Corn Trading and Processing Center on a lot privately owned by Bautista Ella, president of the Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Incorporated.
The Ombudsman said this was contrary to the “basic principle that public funds shall be used solely for a public purpose.”
In the second case, the Ombudsman took to task Alcala for resorting to the “negotiated procurement” of pumps and engine sets even as “there was only one failure of public bidding.”
Also dismissed from the service were Silvino Tejada, then the director of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management; Uldarico Andal, chair of the inspection committee; Sonia Salguero, head of the procurement unit; and Rodelio Carating, Diosdado Manalus, and Ernesto Brampio, all from the bids and awards committee of the BSWM.