After being fired last year over his alleged role in the anomalous purchase of medical supplies worth P80 million, Air Force General Normando T. Sta. Ana Jr. has been reinstated as chief of the AFP Medical Center.
Armed Forces Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. reinstated Sta. Ana despite the yet unresolved controversy over the supply mess. Sta. Ana is an adopted member of the Philippine Military Academy “Dimalupig” Class 1981 to which the Catapang Jr. belongs.
AFP has yet to release any findings on the P80-million medical supply anomaly. But AFP spokesman Colonel Restituto Padilla on Tuesday asked for ample time to consult Catapang about the issue before issuing any official statement.
AFPMC insiders said they were surprised on Monday after Sta. Ana called for a “top level” conference although some said that as early as Friday last week he was already “making his presence felt”.
In October 2014, Catapang sacked Sta. Ana together with his former special disbursing officer Lieutenant Colonel Florencio Ritchie I. Capulong, Management and Fiscal Office chief Major Neil D. Bugarin and acting ACS for Logistics Colonel Rogelio S. Del Rio after they were accused of malversation of public funds by a complainant in the office of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales.
Catapang had to issue a second relief order against Capulong who turned out to have been merely reassigned to another position.
Capulong was voted one of the 10 outstanding policemen by the Metrobank Foundation.
The supply mess was uncovered by a certain Renato Villafuerte who filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Villafuerte asked Morales to investigate Sta. Ana and the other repsondents for alleged malversation of funds in violation of Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003. (C/O Manila Standard Today, Florante Solmerin)
