DPWH submits initial report on P150-M vehicle repair scam

Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong vowed yesterday to push to the hilt his purge of the agency and ensure that the perpetrators are criminally prosecuted.

"This would not be a flash-in-the-pan. This would be a continuing effort," Datumanong said.

A source at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said he has forwarded an initial report of a five-member probe panel created to look into the P150-million vehicle repair scam.

Datumanong said earlier the investigation which was launched early this month, would be completed in three months.

"The secretary wants to see if there are basis (for filing) of criminal charges," the source said. "There was an earlier proposal to let the Ombudsman handle the administrative aspect, too, but he wanted to act on them himself to show the public that he is doing something about the scam."

The source said the investigation has actually been completed, but Datumanong still wanted the charges prepared first and asked those involved (in the mess) to explain their side.

At least 44 DPWH officials were cited for alleged complicity in the irregularity.

"It would really take us three more months to file the case, but that is because he (Datumanong) wants all the cases prepared ... before going on with the filing," the source added.

The three-month delay was allegedly in anticipation of dilatory tactics to be employed by the lawyers of the respondents.

The secretary has identified as a primary suspect Maximo Borje Jr., chief of the DPWH motorpool, who allegedly pocketed the bulk of some P60 million in reimbursements for repair of DPWH service vehicles and equipment for last year alone.

Datumanong confirmed that Borje filed a leave of absence and flew to the United States on June 7, or three days after the scandal broke out.

He said the preliminary report on the alleged involvement of certain presidential appointees would be submitted to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission for proper action. At least three directors of the agency were being eyed for possible involvement in the anomaly.

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.

DPWH 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.

The secretary has 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."

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, the 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 failure 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 before making a public identification of the other suspects.

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