AFP Medical Center head sacked over ‘anomalous’ supplies deal

(Updated 4:50 p.m.) The head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) has been relieved from his post over the alleged anomalous procurement of medical supplies worth P80 million.

In an interview with reporters Tuesday, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the relief of Brig. Gen. Normando T. Sta. Ana Jr. to give way to a “thorough and impartial” investigation on the alleged anomaly.

Cabunoc said Sta. Ana's dismissal is effective Tuesday.

“Ito ay ipinag-utos ng ating AFP chief of staff upang mabigyang daan ang masusi at impartial investigation... dahil syempre merong pwedeng magsabi na pwede niyang (Sta. Ana) impluwensyahan ang ginagawang imbestigasyon dahil nakaupo pa siya sa pwesto,” Cabunoc said.

Cabunoc said AFPMC deputy chief Colonel Benedicto Jovellanos would temporarily replace Sta. Ana.

Cabunoc said the investigation on Sta. Ana and three other officials of the AFPMC started on September 5. He said there are already initial findings in the investigation, but did not categorically say whether it became the basis of Catapang for relieving Sta. Ana.

“May initial findings hindi ko lang masabi kung ano yun,” Cabunoc said “Hindi ko rin masabi ngayon kung dahil ba dun ang basis ng chief of staff.”

Cabunoc, meanwhile, said there is no order yet to relieve the three other AFPMC officials linked in the alleged anomaly, namely, Col. Florencio Ritchie I. Capulong, special disbursement officer; Maj. Neil D. Bugarin, management and fiscal office chief; and Col. Rogelio S. Del Rio, the acting ACS for Logistics.

“Sa ngayon wala pa akong natanggap na ulat. Ngunit sa Armed Forces of the Philippines ang pinakamabigat na responsibilidad ay nasa commander o nasa lider at siya yung agad na naapektuhan,” Cabunoc said.

Sta. Ana and the three other officials are also facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman filed by a certain Renato Villafuerte over the same deal, which the complainant alleged that was done without public bidding.

Cabunoc, meanwhile, said the results of their investigation would be made available to the public.

“Sinusigurado ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na ipagbigay alam natin sa publiko kung ano man ang resulta nung imbestigasyon na ginagawa. Napakaraming dokumento na inuunkat at inaalam upang mabigyan daan ang pagpapaliwanag kung ano man ang dahilan sa mga sigalot na ito,” he said. —Elizabeth Marcelo with Amanda Fernandez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News