Trial for ex-BFAR execs to continue

Two former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) officials and a British businessman will stand trial on graft charges related to an allegedly anomalous P2 billion vessel monitoring system project in 2018. 

Cainta Regional Trial Court Branch 141 Judge Don Ace Mariano Alagar denied motions to quash the charges against former BFAR national directors Eduardo B. Gongona, Demosthenes R. Escoto and Simon Tucker, CEO of UK-based SRT Marine Systems, according to a six-page resolution dated 7 February 2025.

The court ruled that the Office of the Ombudsman did not commit inordinate delay in its investigation and rejected claims by Gongona and Escoto that their right to a speedy disposition of cases was violated.

It also found no legal basis to dismiss the two counts of graft under Section 3(e) and one count each under Sections 3(g) and 3(j) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

Arraignment and pre-trial are set for 26 February.

Gongona and Escoto argued that the Ombudsman took nearly three years to file the case, exceeding the two-year limit for complex cases under OMB Administrative Order No. 1 of 2020.

The court ruled that the preliminary investigation, including resolutions on motions for reconsideration, was completed within 24 months, as allowed for complex cases involving voluminous records.

The court also found no indication of politically motivated or maliciously prosecuted charges.

The case stems from allegations that the three conspired to award a P2.09 billion contract to SRT-UK, despite the company’s prior disqualification from a French-funded bidding process. The original project, backed by a P1.6 billion French government loan, required bidders to be French or in a joint venture with a French firm.

SRT-France, a subsidiary of SRT-UK, was disqualified by the French Ministry of Finance due to British ownership and lack of operational facilities in France.

Prosecutors allege that Philippine officials restructured the deal, secured local funding, and expanded the contract, increasing costs and government obligations. The Ombudsman ruled in February 2024 that the accused “orchestrated a series of questionable events” to ensure SRT-UK secured the contract.

Gongona and Escoto, who each posted bail of P360,000 in January, will proceed to trial. Tucker has yet to surrender to authorities. Judge Alagar ordered Tucker to appear in court and post bail before the 26 February proceedings.

Escoto, who was dismissed from government service after a separate Ombudsman ruling found him guilty of grave misconduct, also faces contempt of court charges.