Crackdown Continues: Tugade Sacks CAAP men for Alleged Involvement in Corruption

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There is no stopping Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade from going after corrupt officials.

Adding up to the list is former Philippine Airforce Col. Rodolfo Moral, who was immediately terminated from his post as Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Airworthiness Inspector, after reports of his alleged extortion activities were brought to the attention of the agency.

Upon learning of the malevolent act, Tugade did not mince his words to deplore Moral’s actions.

“Walang puwang sa departamento ko at sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga corrupt! Hindi alam ng mga gaya ninyo ang tunay na kahulugan ng serbisyo publiko,” Tugade said.

Moral was purportedly asking an undisclosed amount from a religious group in exchange of airworthiness certification.

Initially, the religious group gave in to his demands and presented an undetermined amount, but Moral apparently was asking for more. It was at this point that the religious group sought the help of another airworthiness inspector who brought the matter to management.

CAAP immediately conducted an investigation, and based on the initial findings, Moral’s acts were recurrent. On the same day, the management decided to terminate his engagement.

“We want to send a strong message to everyone here in CAAP that we will not, in any way, tolerate corruption. That is unethical, and it should be stopped”, said CAAP Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco.

Moral will face possible criminal charges in violation of Corrupt Practices Act.

Not the 1st Time

CAAP, under the leadership of Secretary Tugade, has been very relentless in their fight to end corruption.

Earlier this month, Jose Budiongan, Area Manager for Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro was suspended pending final resolution of the complaints filed against him involving malversation of public funds and extortion from airport porters.

Meanwhile, Naga Rascal, Area X Manager for Zamboanga International Airport was also suspended and under investigation for his unexplained wealth due to alleged corrupt practices. Rascal was earlier suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for non-filing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth or SALN.

Likewise, collection Officer Patricio Fayloga of Busuanga is under investigation for failure to remit amounts he received amounting to PhP 27,020. Fayloga’s termination will take effect tomorrow, Monday, 23 April 2018.

Also included in the list is Busuanga Airport Manager Joel Arzaga for his supposed participation in extortion activities with an airport concessionaire. Arzaga was already relieved pending result of an investigation.


Stern warning

The Transportation Chief is a bit disappointed to learn that despite his serious warning, some employees still resort to practicing illegal activities.

But, Tugade is determined to crackdown every single employee who will go against his ideology of clean and transparent governance.

“Kung hindi niyo kayang maging tapat sa serbisyo, umalis na lang kayo. Huwag niyo nang hintaying mahuli ko kayo dahil hindi ko kaya sasantuhin. One-strike policy tayo at habang nandito ako, hindi ko hahayaan na mamerwisyo kayo”, said Tudage.

Tugade continues to encourage the public not to tolerate any form of corruption and similarly tells them not to be afraid in reporting crooks because they will definitely face immediate removal from government service.

He also gave the assurance that there are only few rotten eggs in the system and most people in government still adhere to the tenets of honest, good and efficient public service.

LTFRB Bicol Regional Director, Employees Sacked Over Corruption Charges

Wazzup Pilipinas!
In line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to curb corruption in government, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade recently ordered Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III to relieve one LTFRB Regional Director, and three other LTFRB employees, due to corruption charges.

Last Friday, 20 April 2018, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III personally served the order against Bicol Regional Director (RD) Jun Abrazaldo, and installed the new RD, Ret. Col. Vladimir Kahulugan.

“We don’t tolerate corruption under this administration. When your top official such as an RD is allegedly involved, what can you expect from the entire office? Madaling makahawa ‘yan,” said Chairman Delgra.

Last 10 April 2018, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yebra issued a 90-day preventive suspension order against Atty. Mary Jil Caurel, Hearing Officer IV of LTFRB Bicol pending investigation for grave misconduct and other administrative offenses.

Caurel is being investigated on charges of grave misconduct for allegedly accepting money in exchange for speedy resolution of application for Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), willfully and deliberately withholding the release of CPCs, as well as extortion activities in exchange for the release of impounded vehicles. She is also being charged for gross and inexcusable delay of franchise applications for almost one to two years. Caurel was likewise charged with Serious Dishonesty for falsification of entries in her Daily Time Records (DTRs) since 2016.

Two of Caurel’s aides, Christine Yan and Erlisa Sedano, both Administrative Aides, will likewise be asked to explain their alleged participation in the charges. A show cause order will be issued against them soon.

Transportation Secretary Tugade has previously instructed all offices and attached agencies of the DOTr to cleanse their ranks of corrupt officials and employees.

“Anay ‘yang mga ‘yan sa isang organisasyon. Ayaw ko niyan, at ayaw ng Presidente niyan. Kung palagay niyo, guilty kayo, umalis na kayo dyan. Kung magmamatigas kayo, talagang magtutuos tayo,” warned Tugade.

All employees of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Nueva Vizcaya were relieved recently following reports from rice traders of extortion activities. Similarly, Engr. Jose Budiongan, Area Manager for Area Center X of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) was slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension order for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, while Victor Torrefiel, Administrative Aide VI of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) was also placed under a 90-day preventive suspension for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

11 Job Order personnel from the DOTr’s Environmentally Sustainable Initiative Transportation Unit (ESITU) were also terminated for alleged falsification of employment contracts. Engr. Roberto Delfin, a supervising transportation and development officer assigned to the Road Transport Planning Division of the DOTr Central Office was also found guilty of accepting bribes from a transport cooperative.

 

Ringstar Boxing: Filipino Boxer Michael Dasmarinas Wins IBO Bantamweight World Title

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ringstar Boxing, Asia’s fastest growing sports media property, which has now reached an overwhelming broadcast footprint of over a potential billion viewers across the globe, just had its very successful ‘Roar of Singapore IV - The Night of Champions’, held last weekend at the 10,000-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The fight was also aired live in different parts of the world, via Fight Sports and Fox Sports Asia.

Filipino boxer Michael “Gloves on Fire” Dasmarinas, won the IBO Bantamweight world title, after stunning Frenchman Karim Guerfi with a knock out, 40 seconds into the 4th round of what was supposed to be a 12-round bout.

The 25-year old Camarines Sur native, had a month-long training in Japan to prepare him for the world title fight.

According to boxing analyst Mike Ochosa, “They say that a big puncher will always have an advantage in a boxing match, and in every round, that’s what Mike approved. Karim did the right thing and engaged Mike from the beginning. The Frenchman showed that his hands were ready to be thrown. He was throwing a lot of punches and trying to outbox and smother Dasmarinas. But that also is a very big risk for Karim. And in the fourth round he found out just how dangerous his plan was. He kept on engaging the Filipino and put himself at risk. Mike on the other hand, at the start of round two, started to focus on body shots which forced the Frenchman to bring down his defense. And at the most opportune time in the fourth round Mike unleashed a straight left which dropped the Frenchman.”

Dasmarinas says, “Talagang thankful ako sa mga taong tumulong sa akin, lalo na ang Ringstar at si Scott Farrell, na nagtiwala sa kakayahan ko, kahit sinabing underdog ako. Pero mas gusto ko yun na underdog ako para di ako ma-pressure masyado. Yun pagkapanalo ko na knock out, di ko ine-expect na tatamaan siya na ganoon. In-expect ko mananalo ako ng knock-out pero di ko inakala na ganon kaaga.”

(I am thankful to everyone who has helped me, specially Ringstar and Scott Farrell, who trusted in my capabilities, even though I’ve been called an underdog. But I prefer being called an underdog, so I wouldn’t feel that pressured. With regard the knock out, I didn’t expect that I hit him that hard. I expected that I will win by knock out, but didn’t think that I will knock him out that early.”

Ringstar Founder and CEO Scott Farrell says, “Ringstar, now has its first world champion with Michael Dasmarinas. We will now build on this victory with more exciting fights and you will see him with more world title belts, being added to his collection very soon.”

Singaporean boxer Muhamad “The Chosen Wan” Ridhwan, on the other hand, stayed undefeated, now 10-0, and took home the IBO Intercontinental Featherweight Title that night. He faced Filipino boxer Jeson Umbal, in a 12-round bout, which the audience saw as a close fight. The scorecard went in favour of Ridhwan, which saw these numbers, 112-116, 114-115, and 111-117.

Boxing analyst Mike Ochosa says, “It was very clear that the Filipino was going to go for the knockout particularly at the beginning of the fight. Ridhwan had to take all the power punches thrown by the Filipino in the beginning. At the same time the Singaporean kept on boxing and moving, and jabbing Jeson. Jeson from the beginning of the fight to the end was only banking on one thing, his power. He was connecting with left treats and right hooks but unfortunately was not able to follow up any opportunity that he created for himself. On the other hand, Ridhwan continued his strategy of mixing it up with Jeson, with jab hooks. The fight was simply about a boxer with a plan he implemented well, versus a boxer who just wanted to engage in and the fight with one power shot.”

Ringstar Founder and CEO Scott Farrell says, “Ridhwan has proven to the world that he is legitimate and a true world title contender. He is everything, I have been telling you he is, and now the doubters are silenced…. A World title fight is next!”

Ringstar Boxing, Asia’s fastest growing sports media property has now reached an overwhelming broadcast footprint of over a potential billion viewers across the globe, and is currently gearing up for its April 20 show, ‘The Roar of Singapore IV – ‘ The Night of Champions’, to be held at the 10,000-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

Sponsors and Partners of ‘The Night of Champions’ include Roomaif International, Marina Bay Sands, and Alexandre Christie.

Ringstar has a global live broadcast footprint of 1 billion viewers, plus broadcast partners that include FIGHT SPORTS Channel and Fox Sports Asia.  Please visit www.fightsports.tv and www.foxsportsasia.com for more information.

Get the latest announcements at www.ringstar-boxing.com and follow us at www.facebook.com/ringstarboxing and on Twitter and Instagram at @ringstarboxing. 


Cover Photo Caption: Michael “Gloves on Fire” Dasmarinas is declared the new IBO Bantamweight world champion at Singapore Indoor Stadium.