The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has affirmed its decision ordering the filing of a criminal case against former administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for the three-year delay in the procurement of P5.7 million in farm equipment.
The Ombudsman in a decision released to the media on Monday, January 22, denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Serafica who was indicted for violation of Section 65(a)(2) of Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act.
It said there were no grounds for reconsideration, the Sept. 26, 2023 joint resolution against Serafica is affirmed.
The order was signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Kathleen Sheelah Uyalcober and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
The Ombusdman in its earlier ruling also found Serafica guilty of gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct and meted the penalty of dismissal from the service and perpetually disqualification from holding public office.
Serafica resigned from the SRA in August 2022 following the issuance of a controversial sugar importation order.*