The Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of five officials of the Anti-Red Tape Authority including its chief pending a corruption investigation in connection with the grant of telecommunication frequencies to a local player.
In a three-page order dated May 24 and made public only on Sunday, Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires said their six-month suspension would prevent the officials from influencing the case and harassing witnesses.
“The evidence on record shows that the guilt of the respondents… is strong,” according to a copy of the order. “The charges against them involve grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”
Mr. Martires issued the suspension order based on a complaint filed by Dito Telecommunity, Inc., which is being represented by Adel A. Tamano, its chief administrative officer.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority in March last year issued an order of automatic approval for the assignment of contingent frequencies to Dito rival Now Telecom Co., Inc. after the National Telecommunications (NTC) failed to act on its application.
But Dito said these frequencies had been assigned to it as a new major player. Dito has sought to intervene in the ARTA case, while the NTC asked the agency to recall the automatic approval.
NTC proceedings are quasi-judicial in nature and are not covered by the automatic approval clause, it said, citing an opinion of the Justice department.
In its order, the Ombudsman asked Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea to enforce the suspension of the ARTA officials. — John Victor D. Ordoñez