Ex-UP dean fined for hiring own firm

A former dean of the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s College of Human Kinetics (CHK) was found guilty of breach of conduct for hiring the catering services of a firm he jointly owned with his wife.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Office of the Ombudsman said its state prosecutors secured the conviction of Hercules Callanta for violation of Section 7 (a) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which prohibits a public official or employee from directly or indirectly having financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of his or her office.

The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 36, which promulgated the decision, however, only ordered Callanta to pay a fine of P5,000.

Based on the ombudsman’s investigation, Callanta, on May 26, 2007 engaged the services of The Lord’s Inheritance Catering, a firm he and his wife owned, to provide meals for a summer recreation program organized and sponsored by the CHK.

The ombudsman said UPDiliman paid a total of P6,300 for the catering services, the proof being a disbursement vouches bearing Callanta’s signature.

“Without such signature, the disbursement voucher could not be processed for payment by the UP Diliman Accounting Office, and the May 26, 2007 transaction would not have been paid,” a portion of the court’s ruling read.

The court gave no credence to Callanta’s defense that the transaction was done in good faith, adding that while he ensured that all the required documents and certifications were in order before he signed the disbursement voucher, “he cannot escape the fact that this transaction is prohibited.”