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PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION (PAGC) 

PRESS RELEASE

January 17, 2007 

URBAN POOR COMMISSIONER DISMISSED OVER UNOFFICIAL FUND RAISING PROJECT 

The Office of the President (OP) has dismissed from service a Commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) after the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) found the defendant guilty of soliciting certain amounts for an unofficial fund raising project. 

On recommendation of PAGC Chair Constancia P. De Guzman, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita approved by authority of the President the dismissal from government service of Commissioner Mohammad Isa Perfecto C. Vergel De Dios, Jr. last January 10, 2007.  De Dios’ civil service eligibility was also cancelled and his financial benefits forfeited. 

On January 5, 2005 De Dios solicited funds from then Senate President Franklin M. Drilon in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00) for an alleged fund raising activity of Zion Productions, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMA 7) and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) through a show, the proceeds of which will go to muslim mosques and madrasah among others. 

Furthermore, on January 25, 2005, De Dios sent an Invitation Letter addressed to Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, likewise pertaining to the fund raising activity. 

The said fund raising activity, a fashion show entitled “First Light” was supposed to feature works of renowned couture Ms. Patis Tesoro, slated on February 9, 2005 at Manila Hotel. 

Based on the Counter-Affidavit submitted by De Dios to PAGC, he claimed to have been permitted by PCUP Chairman Percival Chavez to endorse the said activity.  He further clarified that PCUP’s involvement was limited to the endorsement of the show, thus, its execution would not have cost PCUP any amount.  

Upon evaluation, PAGC discovered that Chairman Chavez did not have any knowledge of the project and denied in his letter that the said fund raising activity was official. Further investigation by the Commission revealed that De Dios did not check on the legitimacy of the Zion Productions, which turned out to be unregistered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with false address and contact numbers. 

PAGC clarified that even though the project was aborted, the Commission found a prima facie evidence that De Dios directly violated the relevant provision of Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”, prohibiting all public officials from soliciting or accepting anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their officials duties.  Moreover, the Commission found a violation of Presidential Decree No. 1564 (amending Act No. 4075), otherwise known as the “Solicitation Permit Law”, when he failed to secure the required solicitation permit before conducting the said fund raising activity.   

“Mr. De Dios unlawfully used his office to solicit amounts for an unauthorized fund raising activity. The actuations of De Dios in misrepresenting that PCUP was connected with the fund raiser, as well as associating the good name of his office with a dubious project and partner, Zion Productions was antipodal to the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, considering that he was acting in behalf of the Government. He unabashedly used his position in total disregard of the Constitutionally enshrined principle that a public office is a public trust,” stated Chairman De Guzman. “Public servants who will be involved in any wrongdoings, unwittingly or not, will have to be dealt with accordingly.  They may invoke worthwhile intentions, but regrettably, in dealing with corruption, the end does not necessarily justify the means,” she added.

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