THE Court of Appeals has voided an order of the Office of the President terminating Philippine Racing Commission chairman Jaime Dilag due to complaints of malversation of public funds in 2006.

In a 17-page decision written by Associate Justice Edgardo Cruz, the CA?s Seventh Division ruled that the dismissal order issued against Dilag was not valid because he was ?denied his basic right to due process,? in the investigation conducted by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

According to the appellate court, the PAGC should be faulted for not furnishing the Philracom executive copies of affidavits of complaints against him. Had Dilag been furnished with the pertinent complaints, he could have prepared an intelligent defense of the charges against him, the CA said.

?A reading of the formal charge readily reveals that it merely outlines in general terms the various acts petitioner is being charged for. It does not refer to specific dates nor name the witnesses to the alleged anomalies. Under the circumstances, it cannot be said that petitioner was afforded a fair and reasonable opportunity to effectively refute the charges against him point by point,? the CA ruling stressed. Rey Requejo