FOR failing to investigate alleged fund mishandling in an
office under his control, former Bureau of Fire Protection director Francisco S.
Senot has been charged with obstruction of justice before the Sandiganbayan.
Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro approved a
resolution recommending Senot’s indictment.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Supt. Ma. Luisa
Hadjula and Chief Insp. Elpidio Cruz alleging a fire truck repair scam in BFP-Region
3 supposedly involving Senior Supt. June Ocampo, then Regional Fire Marshall for
Region 3; Supt. Leonardo Banago, chief, Regional Logistics Branch; FO3 Hernani
Gloriani, Logistics Branch; and FO2 Alex Pare.
The Ombudsman found probable cause against Senot for failure
to heed a directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government to
investigate alleged anomalies in the inventory of BFP-Region 3’s office supplies
and equipment for 2002.
The Ombudsman cleared Ocampo and the other BFP-Region 3
officials due to insufficiency of evidence.
The resolution pointed out that Senot’s only defense is a mere denial that he
was not engaged in a cover-up in the investigation. "It has been consistently
ruled that denials, if unsubstantiated by clear and convincing evidence, are
negative and self-serving evidence which deserve no weight in law and cannot be
given greater evidentiary weight over the testimonies of credible witnesses who
testify on affirmative matters," the Ombudsman declared. – Peter J.G.
Tabingo
