Paper ‘exposes’ corruption, anomalies in Coast Guard

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    ANGELES CITY– Has the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) become the latest nest of corruption under the Aquino        administration? A paper from “concerned members of the PCG” now making the rounds in Congress has reported  questionable  appointments of officials to sensitive posts in the PCG  allegedly with the blessings of Transportation and  Communications Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya.

    The paper titled “On Conspiracy  and Corruption in the Philippine Coast Guard” also sought a lifestyle check on one  of the top PCG officials.  The paper noted the  “alarming” lifestyle of the wife  of a ranking PCG official, noting  her “unabashed flaunting of her expensive bags,  parties  and travels.” 

    The letter said that this year alone, the wife travelled  to more than 10 countries including Italy,  Australia, Japan,  Singapore either with her kids,  friends or her husband. Thewife has been posting her travels in her  Instagram account, it added.

    The paper said that the questionable appointments  to top PCG positions seemed  designed “to protect allocated budgets for the PCG such as SARO No. A-13-00584, released March 4, 2013  addressed  to PCG Commandant Rodolfo Isorena, amounting to P104.673 million for March and April 2013 Capability Development Program for the West Philippine Sea which  is a part of the P1.495 billion budget allotted by   the National Government (from the Malampaya  Fund) for PCG Modernization.”

    “Aside from the almost P1.5 billion allotted fund for modernization, PCG, now a civilian agency under DOTC has easy  access to loans, grants and  other budgetary sources. In December, 2013, another loan agreement worth P9.27 billion ($206.9 million) was signed for maritime safety improvement,” the paper also noted. 

    It noted appointments made last year by PCG  Commandant Rodolfo Isorena and included Commodore Joselito  de la Cruz, reportedly a former classmate of Abaya, as PCG headquarters chief of staff, acting commander of the Coast Guard Fleet where major ship repairs are bidded   out, and chair of the headquarters bids and awards committee.

     “Is it not very obvious that  one person holding all three positions in the PCG is conflict of interest?” noted the paper.  The paper also noted the promotions of   two commodores  who were supposed to have been compulsorily retired last year.

    Their promotions  are now under question before the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 41, as filed by Commodores Ramon Reblora  and  Lazaro Valdez. “Are they (Abaya, Isorena, and the newly appointed  PCG officials) truly guarding  the Philippines’ interest in the  West Philippine Sea or are  they guarding the funds that comes with the PCG modernization  to control  for their own vested interests?” the paper asked. 

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