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IN PHOTO: DICT Undersecretary for eGovernment David Almirol Jr.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. maintained that there was no conflict of interest involving ₱1.55 billion in government contracts.
In an interview on Dos Por Dos with Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja, Almirol said he was surprised by the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to place him under preventive suspension for six months, insisting that he had already divested his shares in MultiSys Technologies Corporation in September 2022.
“Ah, medyo nagulat po ako kasi siyempre po apat na taon na po ako dito. Saka po fully divested na po ako ’no since 2022,” Almirol said.
He maintained that the actual transfer of his shares was completed within the 60-day divestment period required by law, arguing that delays in filing corporate documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should not be confused with the date of divestment.
Almirol also disputed allegations that MultiSys directly secured contracts from the DICT, clarifying that the projects in question were awarded to PLDT through government procurement procedures.
“Wala po. Wala pong kontrata po, Multicis po diyan,” he said.
According to Almirol, PLDT had already been providing data center, cloud infrastructure, and SMS messaging services to the DICT even before he joined the agency. He said the contracts underwent the required Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) processes, market studies, and competitive bidding.
He also maintained that neither he nor any member of his family retains ownership in MultiSys.
“Wala po. Zero na po pati kamag-anak, pati anak or wala po kaming pagmamay-ari na po sa MultiSys,” he said.
Almirol said his legal team had prepared documents to support his position and was considering filing a motion for reconsideration. He had yet to receive the official suspension order at the time of the interview.
While questioning the allegations, Almirol said he respects the Ombudsman’s mandate to investigate complaints against public officials and expressed confidence that the documents would establish his position.
The preventive suspension stems from administrative complaints involving alleged grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violations of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The suspension does not constitute a finding of guilt, as the Ombudsman continues its investigation into the allegations.
