‘Midnight appointments’ at DPWH questioned

Was he going the extra mile?

Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong had reportedly asked President Arroyo for more time to wind up the P182-million vehicle repair scam investigation in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

However, Datumanong did more than just conclude the investigation. He recommended to the President at least eight people to top positions in the DPWH, with some recommendations dated as late as Jan. 14, the day before he turned his post over to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Datumanong left the DPWH and assumed his new post at the helm of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Jan. 15.

In some cases, Datumanong reportedly assigned personnel to several DPWH posts in an "acting" capacity — even to posts that were not vacant. In doing so, Datumanong brought the number of DPWH field officials in acting capacity to about 180 during his two-year tenure at the DPWH.

The STAR earlier reported that, as of April 2002, there are 144 acting DPWH regional officials and district engineers.

"I think, as a matter of delicadeza, Datumanong should have just left the designations to his successor and not frantically designated persons to positions at the last minute," a DPWH insider told The STAR.

On Jan. 21, Fernando received a letter from the Presidential Management Staff requesting confirmation of some of Datumanong’s recommendations. A copy of the same letter was acquired by The STAR. Datumanong’s 11th hour recommendations were included in an "undated" endorsement of DPWH regional director Nata Pangarungan’s promotion to assistant secretary and Assistant Secretary Salvador Pleyto’s elevation to undersecretary.

Datumanong also provided for Pangarungan’s replacement in the person of engineer Sosop Ali.

Of his recommendations to the President, one was made on Jan. 7, two more were inked on Jan. 8, two on Jan. 10 and another on Jan. 14.

Other documents obtained by The STAR also showed some 35 new designations by Datumanong to regional director and district engineer positions between Jan. 7 and Jan. 14.