MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has cleared the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) from a complaint involving a contract for the hiring of more security guards to secure the agency's properties in 2008.
In a decision written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero dated Nov. 17 and made available Monday, the anti-graft court's Sixth Division acquitted PSC chairman William I. Ramirez in connection with charges for hiring 95 security guards allegedly without authority from the PSC Board and without conducting public bidding.
Ramirez' co-accused, Ma. Flordeliza Macapagal Angel, president of Excelgard Security and Research Services Inc., meanwhile, remains at large and the case against her was ordered archived in the meantime.
The charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, were in connection with the contract for the hiring of additional 95 security guards, in addition to 108 security guards in the original contract.
The additional guards were deemed needed to secure the PSC facilities, which had been victimized by theft and pilferage.
The premises of the PSC include the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC), Philsports Complex, PSC Baguio Training Center, Shooting Range, KB Velodrome Amoranto Sports Complex, Skeet and Trap Shooting Range, Training for Canoe Kayak Federation, and Rowing Training Facility at the La Mesa Dam.
At the time, the PSC also deemed as necessary the hiring of more guards to prevent untoward incidents similar to the "Wowowee" stampede that resulted in the death of 73 people at the Multi-Purpose Arena in the Philsports Complex.
In clearing Ramirez, the court said the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
"In situations of fallible discretion, good faith is nonetheless appreciated when the document relied upon and signed shows no palpable nor patent, no definite nor certain defects or when the public officer's trust and confidence in his subordinates upon whom the duty primarily lies are within parameters of tolerable judgment and permissible margins of error," the court said.
Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Karl B. Miranda concurred in the decision. (PNA)
