The military's premier hospital has a new chief effective Monday, replacing an Air Force general whose watch was tainted by accusations of irregularity but was later cleared in an investigation.
Air Force Colonel Joseph Acosta, current chief of the Medical Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has been appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as the new chief of the AFP Medical Center at V. Luna Road in Quezon City, the military’s Public Affairs Office (PAO) announced Sunday.
At Monday's (April6) turnover, Acosta will be taking over the helm of the hospital from retiring AFPMC chief Air Force Brigadier General Normando Sta. Ana.
Several months of investigation into alleged corruption involving P80 million worth of medical supplies that reportedly did not undergo public bidding turned up nothing, and Sta. Ana was absolved by the AFP leadership.
Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. earlier relieved Sta. Ana from his post last year amid media reports of the alleged corruption. Sta. Ana, a product of the AFP’s Officer Candidate School, is an adopted member of Catapang’s batch at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Dimalupig” Class 1981.
Also sacked from their positions were former special disbursing officer Lieutenant Colonel Florencio Ritchie I. Capulong, former Management and Fiscal Office chief Major Neil D. Bugarin, and former acting ACS for Logistics Colonel Rogelio S. Del Rio.
Subsequently, however, the AFP leadership absolved Sta. Ana after months of investigation and Catapang ordered his reinstatement as AFPMC chief.
Sta. Ana implemented a sweeping revamp at the AFPMC on his return: sacking officers, staff and even civilian employees whom sources said he suspected as having had a role in leaking the corruption allegations.
The case first arose from a complaint filed by a certain Renato Villafuerte before the Office of the Ombudsman, asking Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate the alleged irregularity in the procurement of medical supplies - in violation, he said, of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/108261/afp-medical-corps-chief-is-new-military-hospital-chief
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