MISLEADING. Suspended National Irrigation Administration Administrator Benny Antiporda shows a copy of suspension order from the Office of the Ombudsman at a press conference in Quezon City on Wednesday (Nov. 16, 2022). He said the complaint against him was misleading, malicious, exaggerated, and untrue. (Photo by Joseph Razon/PNA)
MANILA – Suspended National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Benny Antiporda on Wednesday said the charges leveled against him before the Office of the Ombudsman were “malicious, misleading" and meant to also humiliate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Ang balak nila ay hiyain tayo and at the same time hiyain ang taong nag-appoint sa akin. Hindi po ako papayag na hiyain ang Pangulo dahil napakabait po nya (I will not allow the President to be humiliated because he is a very good person. They plan to humiliate us and at the same time humiliate the person who appointed me),” Antiporda said at a press conference.
“I work at the pleasure of the President and if the President tells me not to continue my work. Hindi po ako kapit-tuko sa position. Gusto ko lamang pong maglingkod sa publiko. (I am not holding on to my position. I just wanted to serve the public),” he added.
The Ombudsman imposed a six-month preventive suspension without pay against Antiporda on Tuesday due to alleged misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest service, and oppression.
Antiporda maintained the complaints filed against him were “exaggerated” and not true.
“Nang dumating ako sa NIA, para bang business as usual ang gusto nila. Ang kanilang ginagawa ay tuloy-tuloy. Kaya nag-order ako reorganization na prerogative ng management (When I came to NIA, it seemed they want it to be business as usual. They carried on with what they were doing. Hence, I ordered a reorganization which is a prerogative of the management),” Antiporda said.
Among others, the complainants alleged that Antiporda undertook “retaliatory tactics” against them but the suspended NIA chief said these same complainants have even received promotions.
Antiporda, however, noted that some of the complainants were even given permanent positions and not in an acting capacity.
“Five hundred plus po ang walang nakaupo. Pero yung contract of service at job order ay ilang libo (Around 500 have no plantilla positions, but those contract of service and job orders are in the thousands,” he said.
“Bakit po ganoon? Para may savings at para magkaroon ng bonus. Yung position ayaw nyong ibigay para lang sa bonus (Why is that so? To have savings and to have bonuses. You don’t want to fill up the positions just for the bonuses,” he added.
Antiporda said he had earlier told President Marcos that he would resign if he could not rid the NIA of corruption in one year.
“Nang makaharap ko ang Pangulo, pinangako po natin na within one year ay lilinisin ko ang NIA in the sense that wala nang corruption at ang pondo natin ay gagastusin nang tama (When I faced the President, I told him that within one year, I will clean up the NIA in the sense that there will be no more corruption and the public money will be spent properly),” Antiporda said.
“Sad to say na dapat kong tanggapin na mas malakas sa akin yung ‘sindikato’. Mas matibay po sila at may suporta sila ng ilang contractors. Mukhang gayun po ang direction. Mukhang gayun po ang nangyayari (I must admit that the ‘syndicate’ is stronger than me. It seems that they are mightier and they are supported by some contractors. It seems to be going that way. It seems that is what is happening),” he added.
Antiporda said his suspension happened fast without him being given a chance to air his side. Still, he said he will abide by the order of the Ombudsman.
“Nawa’y wag po tayong magpagamit. Alam po ng NIA na ang ginagawa namin ay para sa bayan. Pagkakataon na po ito upang magserbisyo nang tama para sa bayan (I hope we will not be used. The NIA knows that what we are doing are for the people. Now is the time to rightfully serve for the country),” he said.
Prior to his suspension, Antiporda revealed that he actually wanted to partner with the Ombudsman in conducting an investigation on the supposed corruption within the NIA.
He also denied allegations that he disallowed the NIA employees to travel. He said he disallowed only the travel of heads of offices who were allegedly collecting millions of pesos in per diem and allowances. (PNA)
