DPWH targets ill-gotten wealth in graft case vs 20 ex-officials, contractors

National

CALLING for possible seizure of ill-gotten assets, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against 20 former officials in Bulacan and five contractors over alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects.

The 35-page complaint, signed by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, sought the prosecution of the respondents for alleged violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds through falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code, and Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

“Through their concerted acts, these officials conspired with contractors to facilitate fraudulent fund releases, causing undue damage and injury to the government and granting unwarranted benefits to the contractors,” the complaint stated per a report by Philstar.

Named respondents included former DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office officials: ex-district engineer Henry Alcantara, assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, construction section chiefs Jaypee Mendoza and John Michael Ramos, planning and design chief Ernesto Galang, maintenance section OICs Lorenzo Pagtalunan and Jaime Hernandez, quality assurance chief Norberto Santos, administrative chief Floralyn Simbulan, and finance chief Juanito Mendoza. Others charged were budget unit head Roberto Roque, procurement head Benedict Matawaran, cashier II Christina Pineda, and project engineers Paul Jayson Duya, Merg Jaron Laus, Lemuel Ephraim Roque, Arjay Domasig, John Carlo Rivera, John Benex Francisco, and Jolo Mari Tayao.

Also facing charges were five private individuals: Sarah Discaya, identified as the beneficial owner of St. Timothy Construction Corp., with Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando as its general manager; Mark Allan Arevalo, owner/general manager of Wawao Builders; Sally Santos, owner/general manager of SYMS Construction Trading; and Robert Imperio, owner/general manager of IM Construction Corp.

Apart from pursuing charges before the Sandiganbayan, Dizon asked the Ombudsman to initiate wealth forfeiture proceedings against the respondents “if warranted” and to coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to investigate possible money laundering.(MyTVCebu)