ANGELES CITY—A high-ranking official of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is now facing criminal and administrative charges.
The Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) filed cases of usurpation of authority and graft against Aileen Asuncion R. Zosa, BCDA executive vice president (EVP) and chief operating officer, with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on September 10.
On Tuesday, CCW President Diego Magpantay and its Central Luzon head Ruel Quitay, as well as CCW legal counsel, Atty. Raymund Palad, held a news conference here and presented their complaint to the media.
Palad said Zosa still holds her BCDA position despite the abolition of her office and her lack of appointment.
The Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) had approved the abolition of Zosa’s office and position since 2015.
But Palad said Zosa has held her position and has performed the functions of an EVP without any legal appointment. She also continues to receive salaries, benefits and emoluments to the damage and prejudice of the government, he added.
“The CCW and I are demanding answers from BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Vince Dizon who is also the Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects, on why he continued to employ Zosa, and even made her head of the Special Bids and Awards Committee and give her the authority over three EVPs despite it all being contrary to law,” Palad said.
“We demand compliance with the law. Dizon has to fire Zosa out of BCDA,” he added.
The CCW has estimated that at Salary Grade (SG) 30, Zosa has received P15 million in government money in the form of salaries and benefits from February 2016 to present.
The Office of the EVP and four divisions were abolished when the GCG approved the BCDA restructuring plan, under Memorandum Order 2915-07 dated February 22, 2015.
Then-BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova issued Office Order 003-2016 informing officers and staff of the abolition of offices, creation of three offices and appointment of Joshua Bingcang as EVP for conversion and development, Nina Radoc as EVP for finance and retired general Carlos Quita as EVP for corporate services.
But Zosa’s SG 30 is higher than that of the three.
Palad said Zosa’s appointment as EVP was last February 1, 2010, or before the restructuring plan.
Palad said they were able to obtain a copy of her appointment under the Freedom of Information Act signed by President Duterte.
“She has no appointment paper as EVP that was issued after the restructuring plan of BCDA in February 2016,” Palad pointed out. It was learned that the Civil Service Commission in the NCR has confirmed the abolition of the EVP office and ordered an investigation of Zosa.
Zosa’s acts amounted to dishonesty which should be meted the penalty of dismissal from service with perpetual disqualification from holding public office, said Palad.
Magpantay said the CCW filed charges in the PACC so that immediate action can be taken against Zosa “because she is handling a sensitive position and we are wondering why the BCDA president has tolerated this.”
It can be recalled that the CCW is also the main complainant in the procurement aspect of the Dengvaxia controversy.
Meanwhile, BCDA assistant vice president for corporate communications Lani Macasaet said they have “yet to receive a copy of the complaint” and refused to issue any further statement.