DPWH to expand repair scam probe

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to expand its investigation on the vehicle repair anomaly to cover disbursements made before 2001, when the practice was most prevalent.

"In the coming weeks, DPWH Secretary Simeon Datumanong will issue an order for the probe to cover the period between 1982 to 2001, particularly ’98, ’99 and 2000 when the scam was at its worst," a department source said.

The source said an expanded probe could reveal over P600 million in illegal disbursements.

The DPWH is currently reviewing the vehicle repair disbursements for 2001 which have reached P150 million. A panel is investigating 31 DPWH personnel implicated in the irregularity.

Under the scheme, employees are allowed to advance payments to repair shops for vehicle work. The scheme, however, has been exploited and converted into a money-making scheme through "ghost" or non-existent repairs.

In other cases, the cost of repair for a vehicle exceeded the actual value of the unit itself. – Jose Aravilla