Plunder, graft raps filed vs Coloma over printing deal

MANILA, Philippines — The labor union of a government-owned and controlled company engaged in printing forms and materials for government agencies filed plunder and graft charges against former Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

Asian Productivity Employees Association (APEA), the labor union of Apo Production Unit (APO), filed charges against Coloma, six APO officers and 11 John Does for plunder and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).

Coloma and the APO officers allegedly amassed more that P190 million from government funds, according to the complaint.

APEA President Conrado Molina claimed that Coloma and the other accused hired fraud sales specialists to acquire millions of APO revenues for five years ending Dec. 31, 2015.

"Accordingly, for the year 2015 alone, the total amount sacked by the Respondents in the guise of sales commission was P70,103,077.02, an aggregate amount already qualified for Plunder pursuant to RA 7080 (Anti-Plunder Law)," the complaint read.

The complaint also stated that APO remitted at least P500,000 to the National Treasury but the respondents released more than P191 million as sales commission for its printing deals with various government agencies.

Meanwhile, Coloma said that the plunder charges filed against him and senior officials of APO is harassment.

"Such allegations are false and baseless. Contrary to our detractors' claims, we have professionalized APO's management and restored its finances and operations to an even keel," Coloma said in a statement released on Friday.

Coloma added that APO has posted profits that have been turned over to the government.

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