Cabinet secretary may file cases vs suspended PCA chief for corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Preventively suspended Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Avelino Andal may soon face at least five legal cases against him to be filed by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

 

An industry source, who refused to be named, said the Office of the Cabinet Secretary is already studying cases against Andal following corruption allegations which led to his suspension order.

 

"Cases to be filed? Extortion, RA 3019, violation of RA 8048, violation of PCA’s no gift policy, RA 6713, etc," the source said.

 

Republic Act 3019 is the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act 8048 is the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995 while Republic Act 6713 is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

 

Andal has been issued a 90-day preventive suspension since last week by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco over corruption allegations and is now under pressure to explain the administrator’s recent actions, including the illegal collection of fees.

 

Undersecretary Halmen Valdez earlier said that there is an alleged illegal collection of P1.50 per board foot of lumber in Basilan of Andal’s trusted employees and other sworn statements stating that he is the mastermind of such scheme.

 

"P1.50 per board foot sounds small, but with 400,000 trees to be cut (as debris management process post-cocolisap treatment), it will reach around P90 million in Basilan alone," she added.

 

Apart from Basilan, a similar scheme is also happening in Mindoro, Marinduque and Quezon.

 

Investigation on Andal’s recent actions remains to be ongoing.

 

"We already have all the submitted complaints. We are organizing and discussing then we will have to submit it to Cabinet Secretary Evasco," investigating head and newly appointed PCA Director Conrad Capa said.

 

Likewise, Andal is also mulling legal options against the Office of the Cabinet Secretary particularly Evasco and Valdez.

 

 

Andal said he might file cases this week.