Ombudsman urged to suspend Acosta, Erfe over PAO Forensic Laboratory

A motion has been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman seeking the preventive suspension of Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta and PAO Forensic Laboratory chief Dr. Erwin Erfe over the alleged creation of the PAO Forensic Laboratory without any legislation or authority from Congress.

Lawyer Wilfredo Garrido Jr. filed the motion by himself, a copy of which was sent by the Office of the Ombudsman to media.

In his motion, Garrido said the cases involving Acosta and Erfe involve dishonesty, oppression and grave misconduct in the performance of duty.

He also said there is "imminent danger" that Acosta and Erfe could tamper with the records of PAO with regard to the creation of the PAO Forensic Laboratory, as well as the disbursement of funds for its support and maintenance, including salaries, supplies, equipment, utilities, representations, allowances and emoluments — all of which are evidence of malversation of public funds.

Garrido added that there is a possibility that respondents may alter documents pertaining to the purported "expert" researches and examinations conducted by Erfe and his assistants.

"The preventive suspension will ensure that any evidence in possession of respondent or in the premises of the Public Attorney's Office will be preserved," Garrido said.

He also asked the Office of the Ombudsman to order that Acosta and Erfe vacate their respective offices immediately and "turn over all records pertaining to the creation and operation of the PAO Forensic Laboratory to their next-in-rank Deputy."

GMA News Online has contacted Acosta and Erfe for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

In a 20-page complaint filed earlier with the Office of the Ombudsman, Garrido alleged that Acosta and Erfe violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; falsification of public documents; malversation of public funds; and illegal use of public funds or property, in relation to the Dengvaxia scare and the "illegal" creation of the PAO Forensic Laboratory.

"Acosta and her sidekick Erfe have fanned public anger, even creating hysteria, by painting the deaths as the result of a nefarious scheme to inject hundreds of thousands of children with an untested, experimental, ineffective and dangerous vaccine called Dengvaxia," the complaint read.

Acosta also allegedly "actively sought out and instigated" the parents of deceased Dengvaxia recipients to file criminal cases against public health officials, an example of the worst case of exploitation and ambulance-chasing by a public attorney," the complaint continued. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News