The Ombudsman ordered the suspension of Rear Admiral Melad and 24 high-ranking officials for irregularities in the use of government funds.
The Office of the Ombudsman, headed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, has ordered the suspension of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Rear Admiral William Melad and 24 other high-ranking officials while the investigation on the alleged irregularities in the use of P67.53 million funds is on progress.
Rear Admiral Melad and the other officials were facing administrative charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.
According to the Ombudsman, the officers were accused of not following the rules and regulations in buying office supplies and information technology equipment using cash advances (CAs) which amounted to P67, 533, 289.73.
They allegedly submitted spurious liquidation documents that indicated misrepresentation and fraud.
The Ombudsman noted that on April 15, 2015, the Commission on Audit (COA) issued an audit observation memorandum regarding the same accusations.
The Ombudsman directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through Secretary Arthur Tugade, to enforce the suspension order to prevent the said officials from using their positions to influence the continuing investigation.
Morales said that the respective positions of the respondents “allow them to wield influence on possible witnesses and to access public records and their continued stay in office may not only prejudice the charges against them but also allow them to commit further acts of malfeasance”.
Aside from Rear Admiral Melad, also ordered suspended are retired Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, Rear Admiral Cecil Chen, and Commodores Aaron Reconquista and Enrico Efren Evangelista, Jr.
Also included in the suspension order by the Ombudsman were: Commanders John Esplana, Jude Thaddeus BesingaWilliam Arquero, Ferdinand Panganiban, Roben De Guzman, Angel Lobaton IV, Rommel Supangan, Joselito Quintas, Ivan Roldan, George Ursabia, Jr., Ferdinand Velasco, Wilfred Burgos and Allen Dalangin; Captains Joeven Fabul, Angelito Gil, Ramon Lopez, Christopher Villacorte, Lt. Junior Grade Mark Franklin Lim II, Lt. Mark Larsen Mariano, and Accounting Head Rogelio Caguioa.
