Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Vice Adm. Edmund Tan yesterday branded the Sandiganbayan’s 90-day suspension order against him as a case of “justice delayed, justice denied” but vowed to respect it.
“I respect the resolution of the Sandiganbayan to suspend me for 90 days. But my preventive suspension is a classic example of ‘justice delayed, justice denied,’” Tan said.
At the same time, Tan clarified he was not charged with graft as earlier reported in the media.
“This is not a graft case as reported in the newspapers that I am being charged for graft and corruption…I did not benefit from this, I did not gain anything from this one. From the complainant, I did not get any money, I just did my job,” Tan said.
The Sandiganbayan ordered the suspension of Tan in connection with a case filed against him in 2007 for preventing a barge from departing Zamboanga del Sur for not having anchors. The same case was earlier dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The complainant, businessman Reynaldo Chua, complained Tan for stopping his barge — LCT Kapitan loaded with 3,500 tons of iron ore — from departing from the Pagadian City Port, costing him at least P500,000.
However, Tan said Chua has already filed his affidavit of desistance.
“The administrative aspect of the case was already dismissed in the Ombudsman in July 2011 last year and the complainant already issued an affidavit of desistance in May also last year, as he realized that my action in September 2007 to hold the departure of a barge for having no anchors was done in the performance of my duty,”  Tan said.
He added Chua even appeared and testified before the Sandiganbayan last Feb. 20 to attest his desistance of the case.
“But I just can’t understand why a decision on the criminal aspect of my case has to take too long to resolve at the Sandiganbayan when the Ombudsman has already dismissed the admin aspect of same complaint. And now they are suspending me when this should have been decided already in my favor,” Tan said.
“I am filing a motion for reconsideration for this suspension issued by the Sandiganbayan and hope it will be granted,” Tan said.