Graft charges have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director and two other BFAR officials over the allegedly anomalous awarding of a P2-billion contract for Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Named respondents were BFAR chief Eduardo Gongona as well as Demosthenes Escoto and Hansel Didulo, who chaired the Bids and Awards Committee of BFAR. In his complaint, lawyer James Mier Victoriano alleged that the respondents conspired with the officials of SRT Marine Systems Solutions Ltd. to supply VMS transceivers, a vital component needed to implement the Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project II.

Porcalla, D. (2022, March 8). BFAR chief, 2 others face P2-B graft case. The Philippine Star, p. 5.