PRC exec in extortion scandal dismissed from service

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has dismissed Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Alfredo Po after it was established that he demanded and received commission for the rentals being paid by the PRC for its satellite office in Baguio City.

In a decision approved on May 16, 2013, Morales found Po liable for Grave Misconduct and violation of Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Aside from dismissal from service, Po's eligibility was also canceled and his retirement benefits forfeited. He is also perpetually disqualified from re-employment in the government service.

The complainant, Ernesto de los Santos, owner of the PRC-leased building, alleged that in November 2012, Po demanded from him a monthly commission of  P42,800. He said the PRC official even warned him that if he did not comply, the lease contract would be cancelled.

De los Santos said this prompted him to pay P84,000, apparently for the months of October and November, which Po allegedly said was not enough as he demanded a broker’s commission of P394,000.    

Po was arrested on December 5, 2012 in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which was alerted by De los Santos regarding the PRC official's activity.

In his counter-affidavit, Po, appointed to the PRC in September 2010, denied the allegations, saying he could not have intervened in the approval of the lease contract as he was not a member of the PRC's bids and awards committee. He said he signed the lease contract as a mere witness.

He, however, admitted that as an engineer, he inspected the Baguio site in 2011 in his capacity as commissioner-in-charge of physical infrastructure and development. He also argued that it was inconceivable for him to extort money long after the lease contract was signed.  — KBK, GMA News