DPWH execs face 521 counts of graft

As many as 521 counts of criminal and administrative charges may be filed against two undersecretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with a P139-million vehicle repair scam, sources in the Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday.

This developed as acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio created a four-member panel of investigators to look into possible involvement in the anomaly of five ranking officials and at least 22 other personnel of the DPWH.

President Arroyo ordered on Wednesday the 90-day suspension of Undersecretaries Edmundo Mir and Mabini Pablo for alleged neglect of duty, which enabled the unscrupulous DPWH personnel to perpetuate the irregularity.

The Ombudsman source told The STAR that there were 521 vehicles involved in the anomaly, hence the same number of cases would be filed against the respondents.

Records showed that these vehicles underwent last year a total of 7,000 repairs that cost the department P139 million.

The source said every DPWH official who signed the vouchers authorizing release of the funds for the repair of the vehicles at exorbitant costs would be included in the list of respondents.

The scam has been going on in the DPWH for several years now, but was discovered only early this year.

The probers found out that in some instances, the cost of repair was even higher that the actual value of the vehicle.

In one case, repair purportedly done last year on an old model Mercedez-Benz car amounted to P900,000.

DPWH internal auditor Irene Ofilada noted that even a Nissan pickup assigned to her supposedly underwent several fictitious repairs.

"We found out, among other anomalous acts, that only 300 service vehicles are included in the inventory of the equipment, while the rest are not so included, unaccounted for, that they are either ‘ghost’ vehicles or privately owned," Ofilada said.

She said such acts constituted a prima facie case of "dishonesty, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service," and a violation of the Civil Service Law and the Anti-Graft Law.

"The respondents systematically cheated the government when (they) sought the repairs when it was not actually done as they made it appear in the series of documents they prepared as part of their respective functions and responsibilities," Ofilada said.

The Ombudsman probe body is composed of senior investigator Wilfred Pascasio as chairman with Emma Suarez, Cherry Bolo and Bonifacio Mantrilla as members.

Gervacio gave the panel until Tuesday next week to submit its report and recommendations based on its inquiry.

Gervacio also directed the panel to proceed with the preliminary investigation if there is probable cause to file appropriate charges against the five ranking officials and at least 22 other DPWH personnel.

President Arroyo has ordered the filing of appropriate charges against Emily Tanquintic, director for comptrollership and finance management; Burt Favorito, director for administrative and manpower management services; and Florendo Arias, assistant director for bureau of equipment. All three were presidential appointees.

Also reportedly placed on the carpet were Abraham Divina Jr., director for bureau of equipment, and Oscar Abundo, director for legal services.

The STAR tried to get the side of Mir and Pablo, but both were unavailable for comment.

However, Pablo issued a press statement clarifying that he was not accused of involvement in the vehicle repair mess.

"I have read the audit report on the anomalies, and I am definitely not among the 41 DPWH employees being implicated, whether directly or indirectly," the statement said.

He pointed out that he was being cited for administrative neglect of duty for failing to report the anomaly. "And yet, even this lesser charge can find no basis in my official decisions and actions," he said.

Pablo asserted that he has been in the government service for nearly h 30 years now spanning four presidents.

"Through all those years, I have kept faith with my integrity and my honor, as well as the name, integrity and honor of my family," he said.

He expressed optimism that he would eventually be cleared of the charges. "I know I will be fully vindicated." — Jose Aravilla, Jose Rodel Clapano