Sandigan expedites DPWH scam case

The Sandiganbayan moved yesterday to expedite the plunder charges the government filed against those involved in the P134-million vehicle repair scam at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Presiding Justice Minita Chico-Nazario granted the request of Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio to have the case immediately raffled and assigned to one of the anti-graft court’s five divisions even as most of the accused may have already fled the country.

The case was raffled off yesterday, ahead of the normal procedure in raffling of cases when the court’s docket section receives a minimum of five complaints. The case was assigned to the second division headed by Justice Edilberto Sandoval.

Officials said a warrant of arrest may soon be issued against the 20 DPWH officials led by motorpool chief Maximo Borje, along with 10 private individuals who supposedly supplied vehicle spare parts.

Once arrested, the accused will have to be detained since plunder is a non-bailable offense.

In reaction to reports that the accused may have fled the country or gone into hiding, prosecutors said they will move for the cancellation of their passports.

"We will have their passports and travel documents canceled so that they will eventually be declared undocumented aliens," said Villa Ignacio.

He said the move is the shortest and fastest way possible since the process of deportation is summary in nature.

Villa Ignacio said cancellation of passports is the most feasible strategy since no arrest warrants have been issued yet.

"We avail of this legal shortcut first. Then, if we don’t succeed, that’s the time we opt for extradition," he said.

Villa Ignacio said once the court takes in the plunder complaint, the prosecution will immediately ask for the issuance of arrest warrants and place the names of the accused in the hold-departure list of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

The Ombudsman, through the Office of the Special Prosecutor, filed the complaint last Monday, citing overwhelming evidence to convict all of the accused.

Villa Ignacio said the focus of the Ombudsman’s investigation was Borje, who allegedly raked in P82.3 million from the total of P134 million worth of reimbursements on the repair of some 521 vehicles from March to December 2001.