Motorpool chief on leave in US

A chief automotive mechanic of the graft-laden Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has absconded with some P50 million largely mustered from voucher padding.

DPWH Secretary Simeon Datumanong also revealed that at least 44 officials of the agency were involved in the multimillion-peso scandal involving repair of service vehicles and equipment.

Datumanong said 11 of those being eyed for complicity in the anomaly were "in too deep," while two others were members themselves of a fact-finding panel he formed to conduct the investigation.

Addressing the DPWH’s 104th founding anniversary rites, Datumanong said former motorpool chief Maximo Borje Jr. has reportedly fled to the United States apparently to evade criminal prosecution.

A check with the DPWH personnel department showed that Borje went on leave starting June 7, or three days after the vehicle repair fiasco broke out. Borje’s leave expires on July 3.

DPWH sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said for last year alone, as much as P150 million was involved in the vehicle repair mess.

Earlier reports quoted the DPWH public information office as saying that the anomaly involved P139 million, while the secretary’s office claimed it was only P63 million.

The sources told The STAR that Borje was a major beneficiary of the scam with about P50 million in reimbursements going to his own pocket.

Datumanong also asserted that the bulk of the P63 million went to Borje.

He vowed that heads will roll over the scandal: "All those who would be found culpable shall be relieved. Even if there is evidence to show that I am also culpable, you need not worry... the following day, you would not see me anymore."

Datumanong said the preliminary report would be submitted to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

He said he would have immediately ordered a reshuffle had it not been for a Commission on Elections prohibition on the movement of personnel during election period.

However, two members of the probe panel, identified as accounting division chief Emily Tanquintic and Bureau of Equipment director Abraham Divina, were relieved after they were implicated in the mess.

The three remaining investigators are Datumanong’s chief of staff Lorenzo Sulaik, internal audit chief Irene Ofilada and legal division head Oscar Abundo.

Although Datumanong conceded that Tanquintic might have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of vouchers and other documents she had to sign resulting in her neglect to detect attempts to cheat, he clarified that negligence of duty could be considered as a criminal offense.

He stressed that Tanquintic should have at least detected the anomalous procedure and took steps to stop it.

The secretary said he would wait for the final result of the probe which is due in three months before making a public identification of the suspects.

Datumanong said the preliminary report indicated illegal diversion of funds, including those meant for foreign-assisted projects.