Ombudsman orders PNU president dismissed over $25K magazine ad contract

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of Philippine Normal University (PNU) president Ester Ogena and three other university officials over a $25,000 advertisement in an international magazine.

In a decision signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on October 24, 2017, the dismissal against Ogena came after the anti-graft body found her guilty of grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman also sacked former vice president for finance and administration Rebecca Espana, former finance management director Joseph Luceno, and budget office head Florence Allejos.

The accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits, and disqualification for re-employment in the government service were also meted against the respondents.

The PNU officials were accused of entering a contract with Universal News Ltd. (UNL), publisher of Foreign Policy Journal, for a half-page advertorial in 2011.

In her counter-affidavit, Ogena said the "returns to investment are expected to cover expanded recognition on the global scale, support from funding institutions abroad and collaboration with foreign universities."

The Ombudsman, however, said the procurement was done through direct contracting instead of a public bidding.

"Respondents' actions show a unity of purpose with everyone contributing to the giving of unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference to UNL," the decision read.

The Ombudsman said the respondents' repeated failure to follow requirements mandated by the Government Procurement Reform Act and rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit amounted to grave misconduct. — BM, GMA News