DPWH vehicle inspectors may be charged for scam

Vehicle inspectors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may end up as the principal suspects in the P150-million car repair scam.

DPWH sources said the 41 employees implicated in the anomalous disbursement of funds have executed affidavits pointing to the vehicle inspectors as the culprits.

"Almost all of them are saying that they only signed the vouchers because it was already signed by the vehicle inspectors (confirming the need for repair) and that they relied on it as true," said an informant of The STAR.

"Of course that is possible (the inspector’s culpability), but the (other accused) should have somehow detected that something was wrong. It is impossible for these inspectors to have made inspections of 50 vehicles a day (as the vouchers indicated). I don’t think they can even inspect five in a day."

All 41 employees were charged administratively and ordered to execute affidavits to explain their side after their signatures appeared in 7,000 vouchers authorizing the release of money for the questionable repair of cars.

Investigators are preparing a separate plunder case against them.

Meanwhile, sources said yesterday the DPWH suspended domestic travel of its officials after the agency failed to pay its exorbitant travel expenses.

At present, the DPWH is spending between P100,000 and P700,000 a week for air travel, with a round-trip ticket costing an average of P6,000.

Insiders told The STAR Philippine Airlines (PAL) has refused to issue plane tickets to the DPWH since last month when the agency depleted its P1 million travel allotment for the year.

"This is the first time it happened to DPWH," said an informant of The STAR. "We have never ran out of cash for travels before. Under an agreement, the cash is deposited to PAL which then issues plane tickets on the basis of memorandum letters from Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan."

Documents obtained by The STAR showed some those who have traveled are from the office of Secretary Simeon Datumanong.

A source said PAL has since resumed giving out plane tickets after the DPWH started issuing checks to the airline company.

"We are currently issuing checks to PAL every week based on the vouchers they are furnishing us," a source said.

However, insiders said the DPWH is yet to replenish its P1 million deposit in PAL.

"There are so many people traveling but we cannot do something about them because they have the required authority (to travel)," insiders said.

Earlier Petron Corporation cut oil deliveries to the DPWH after the agency failed to pay a P1 million debt. – Jose Aravilla