CA ruling vindicates former Eastern Visayas police regional chief

TACLOBAN CITY, June 20 (PNA) -– The decision of the Court of Appeals (CA), clearing the 19 police officials allegedly involved in an anomalous procurement of rubber boats in 2009, has vindicated a former Eastern Visayas police regional director.

“I feel vindicated that the Court of Appeals cleared us. Now it’s time to move on. I will try to rebuild my lost reputation and career,” said Chief Supt. Asher Dolina, one of the officials sacked in 2015 over alleged involvement in the anomalous purchase of nearly Php4.8 million worth of police coastal crafts seven years ago.

Dolina was assigned in the region in 2014 and vacated his position in October 2015.

“Since the start, I feel that the Ombudsman’s dismissal order was unjust, given the absence of due process. We believed that we were able to prove the flimsiness of the allegations against us when we submitted our counter-affidavits and verified position papers at the Office of the Ombudsman. We were surprised of their ruling that we’re guilty,” Dolina explained.

Last week, in a 22 page decision, the Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the Ombudsman’s decision, ordering the re-instatement of 19 police officers allegedly involved in the anomalous procurement.

The CA granted the petition of the police officials and overturned the Ombudsman’s resolution, ordering the dismissal from service after finding them guilty of grave misconduct.

Aside from re-instatement to the police service, the CA also ordered payment of the salaries and benefits withheld from the dismissed officials.

The CA held that the Ombudsman failed to present substantial evidence to prove that there was intent to benefit from the deal on the part of the petitioners.

The appellate court added that the police officials even tried their best to get the best deal for the government, noting that the approved contract was Php4.54 million, which was below the Php5-million allotted budget. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR