6 nabbed for leaking board exam papers

Five employees of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the marketing manager of a shipping line were arrested in Manila Thursday for trying to sell a copy of the test papers for the Marine Deck and Marine Engine Officers board examination.

Under custody of the Manila Police District (MPD) General Assignments and Investigation Section are Joemarie Antiquera, 33, marketing manager of North Star Training Inc., and Christian Asistores, 23, evaluator (Surveillance Division); Julius Maquera, 26, evaluator (Monitoring Division); Malone Morales, 28, evaluator (Surveillance Division); John Daniel Miron, 22, information technician; and Teodorico Dionisio, 29, information technician, all of Marina.

MPD spokesperson Erwin Margarejo said the complainant, Jobert Santos, owner of Pipedown Maritime Services, a review center, was offered by Antiquera a copy of the exam papers in exchange for R500,000.

Santos reported the offer to the Manila police last Wednesday, who arranged an entrapment operation at the Pipedown office on Kalaw Street, Ermita.

Margarejo said the two information technicians had access to the test papers.

Marina board examiner chief engineer Jesse Fresnido expressed disappointment over the incident and said it was possible the leakage has been going on even before they were appointed.

“Matagal na silang empleyado, inabutan na naman kasi kami na-appoint lang ni Pangulong Duterte. Posible na noon pa nangyayari ‘yan,” Fresnido said.

The suspects will be charged with graft.