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SMS No.:

0917-TXTPAGC

0917-(8987242)

PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION (PAGC)

PRESS RELEASE

20 December 2007 

OP, AFFIRMS PAGC, SACKS ANOTHER REGIONAL DIRECTOR  

            The Office of the President, in a Resolution dated 04 December 2007 affirmed the recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission to dismiss MAGDALENA C. JASMIN, Regional Director, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and FELY-ANN P. BALUSAN, CHED-CAR Accountant II and be imposed corresponding accessory penalties, such as cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits, and disqualification from reemployment in government service 

            PAGC and the Office of the President are convinced that there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of GUILT against Jasmin and Balusdan in their act of conspiring with a private person in order to facilitate the disbursement of public funds. Jasmin and Balusdan, in their desire to make their First Higher Education Academic and Cultural Festival a success, resorted to the illegal and deceitful act of securing a sales invoice from Flores and issuing the corresponding disbursement voucher, fully knowing that government money would be disbursed for a service that was not rendered. Flores was found to have issued a sales voucher for catering service allegedly carried out in the said festival, when there was sufficient documentary evidence showing that the catering service was never performed. 

            The Office of the President affirmed PAGC’s jurisdiction over the person of Jasmin despite the fact that she had retired from government service on 1 November 2006, since PAGC’s jurisdiction was vested as early as 8 September 2006, upon the docketing of the case. The Office of the President likewise agreed with PAGC in ruling that Jasmin and Balusdan may have been moved by the desire to succeed in their projects, but they still violated the law and committed illegal use of public funds and dishonesty. Thus, Jasmin and Balusdan were found GUILTY of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and Section 22 (Dishonesty), Rule XIV of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order No. 292 (Revised Administrative Code).  

            “The dismissal of Director Jasmin is another clear indication that we are slowly but surely gaining grounds in the fight against graft and corruption,” PAGC Chairman Constancia P. De Guzman said. 

            “If we all work together and do our respective contributions in this fight, then there will always be hope.  Our country will soon be poverty-free because we are graft-free” she added #

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