DPWH scam: 150 vehicles missing

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may have been paying for bogus repairs on over 500 service vehicles, some 150 of which may actually be missing.

"We are still looking for the rest of the vehicles. But as it turned out, some of these vehicles were at the (House of Representatives) and the Senate," a DPWH source told The STAR yesterday.

And of the 350 accounted for by government investigators and auditors, at least one car was inexplicably traced to Agusan del Norte Rep. Edelmiro Amante, the source said.

Another was traced to a still unidentified Commission on Audit official who moved from the DPWH to the Senate. "I do not know how the two managed to get and keep their cars. We are still checking that," the source said.

Of the 350 vehicles accounted for, 200 are at the DPWH’s Manila main office, 100 were assigned to the department’s district offices and the rest are with its National Capital Region office.

Investigators are expected tomorrow to wrap up their probe and file criminal or administrative charges against 41 DPWH officials and staff accused of availing themselves of over 7,000 vouchers totaling P150 million for bogus repairs on the vehicles and pocketing the money.

The vehicle repair scam began sometime in the 1980s and was discovered only early this year.

Administrative charges have already been filed against 11 of the accused, while 24 others — including two undersecretaries — face both administrative and criminal charges.

Last week, acting Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio said the criminal charges could be changed from mere graft to plunder — an offense punishable with death — depending on the outcome of their preliminary investigation, the prelude to a possible trial.

Under the law, a suspect may be charged with plunder if he is accused of stealing P50 million or more in state funds. Gervacio said they would have to determine the extent of the involvement of each of the accused in filing the proper charges.

Meanwhile, in another scandal rocking the department, an official yesterday denied any knowledge of reports of fuel pilferage by some DPWH drivers.

"I am like the bad guy now at the DPWH," Jesus Cruz, acting supply and property division chief, said. "I do not know about the pilferage. It is unfair to all the drivers of DPWH."

The STAR reported last Monday that some DPWH drivers avail of coupons for daily gasoline allowances even if the service vehicles were supposedly undergoing repair. The coupons are then sold to outsiders.

A source told The STAR that the scheme caused the department to incur a debt of over P1 million with Petron Corp.

Cruz admitted that the DPWH owes Petron Corp. but clarified that he was not the source of the story.

The DPWH had long been seen as one of the most corrupt government agencies along with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and the Philippine National Police.

In an interview last month, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said widespread corruption has been driving away foreign investors.

Mrs. Arroyo pledged to root out corruption – a serious problem that hounded past administrations – upon assuming office in January 2001.

Her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, was ousted in a military-backed popular protest after he was accused of taking bribes from illegal gambling operators, misusing state funds and profiting from insider trading.

Estrada is now detained in a Quezon City military hospital and standing trial for plunder and other charges.