Ex-hospital exec gets 6 years for graft over hiring of sister

A Quezon City court has convicted a former head of the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC) for hiring her sister in a company which she supervises.

Monica Tierra, former chief of the PCMC General Services Division (GSD), was sentenced to six years in prison for violating Section 3(d) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 88.

In its decision, the court found that Tierra was responsible for the hiring of her sister, Rosalinda Alvaro, in the Philcare Manpower Services, a private janitorial services.

Records revealed that Philcare has an existing contract with the hospital which "constituted pending official business with the PCMC, [e]specially the GSD, which accused Tierra, headed as Chief.”

Representatives from Philcare also said Tierra recommended her sister's employment with the company.

“[T]he accused miserably failed to adduce a credible story of non-culpability.  Her alleged lack of knowledge of her sister’s employment with Philcare, a private enterprise under her supervision by reason of her position, is difficult to believe and cannot exonerate her from liability under the law," the decision read.

Section 3(d) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act states that public officials are prohibited from “accepting or having any member of his family accept employment in a private enterprise which has pending official business with him during the pendency thereof or within one year after his termination.”

Aside from conviction, Tierra will also be perpetually disqualified from holding public office. Her retirement and gratuity benefits will also be lost under law upon finality of decision. — MDM, GMA News