Datumanong: No syndicates in DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) does not have syndicates involved in anomalous transactions, Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong said yesterday.

A DPWH anti-graft investigating task force has "not found nor seen any syndicated movement in the central or regional offices," Datumanong told reporters yesterday during a weekly forum held at the Ambassador Hotel.

However, he said that the task force "found some employees who may be involved in illegal transactions." The suspects will be investigated and, if found erring, will be punished and prosecuted in court.

Datumanong made the comment following reports of alleged anomalies being perpetrated by a syndicate on some P7 billion worth of claims on road right-of-way compensation and other scandals that have lately been in the news.

To prevent anomalous claims for road right-of-way (RROW) compensation from being paid, Datumanong formed a task force to strictly review the validity of all pending RROW claims.

However, the investigation into the claims has taken a twist – Datumanong relieved Engr. Patrick Gatan of his position as head of the investigation panel probing the case and subsequently assigned him to the office of DPWH Assistant Secretary Salvador Pleyto.

The DPWH chief refused to name the cause for Gatan’s relief, but said it has nothing to do with the RROW investigation.

"There were some ugly reports against (Gatan)," he said.

The relief marks the second time Datumanong’s own investigators were relieved in the midst of an investigation. During the probe of the vehicle repair scam, three of the five panel members were "excluded" from the investigation after they were found to be involved.

The three panel members in the vehicle scam investigation were later charged with 38 other DPWH employees.

Taking over the RROW investigation is lawyer Julieta Delfin, the erstwhile vice chairman of the panel.

Sen. Ramon Revilla earlier vowed to investigate the anomaly, but Datumanong said the probe has been ongoing since August this year.

"We are looking for grafters in the DPWH," he said, adding that he had ordered a down-the-line lifestyle check on DPWH officials and employees while formulating and implementing steps to cut malpractices in the department.

Datumanong said the check will be completed by Dec. 7, the deadline he set for his "checkers" to review the statements of assets and liabilities for DPWH personnel and make ocular inspections of real estate owned by them.

To prevent the incidence of corruption in the bidding of public works and highways projects, he had asked civic-minded groups and concerned government offices to observe proceedings.

Among the observers are the Commission on Audit, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, the Ombudsman and the National Contractors Association of the Philippines.

In the forum, Datumanong invited members of media to name representatives to observe biddings at all levels, be it national, regional or by district.

"I would appreciate all the assistance you can give so that we, together, can change, if not completely obliterate, the general public perception that the DPWH is one of the most graft-ridden agencies of government," he said.

In Datumanong’s first few days as DPWH head, he terminated two public works contracts worth P48 million in Southern Luzon. His anti-graft team discovered that the two contracts were spuriously bidded out, the invitations to bid having been published in pages of what was made to appear as the dailies Malaya and Philippine Post. – Jose Aravilla