Another graft rap filed vs Roco

Another graft suit was filed against presidential aspirant and former education secretary Raul Roco before the Office of the Ombudsman, this time involving his alleged unlawful use of a helicopter during his stint at the Department of Education (DepEd).

A six-page complaint filed by the DepEd Employees Union, represented by chairman Fidel Salosagcol and president Domingo Alidon, revealed that Roco spent P211,366 in renting a Cebu Air chopper when he inspected schools in the Mt. Province and Benguet in October 2001.

Roco’s so-called alter-ego in DepEd, former undersecretary Ernesto Pangan, was also included in the suit for "authorizing" the rental of the aircraft, when "there was no necessity or urgency for Roco to charter helicopter services" since the places were all accessible by land transport.

"Any executive time spent on the land trip would be well worth it to effect savings equivalent to almost six times the P38,500 monthly salary of a Cabinet secretary," the complaint read, adding "the helicopter services were meant for the luxury and convenience of Roco."

The amount used for the air travel, the DepEd employees pointed out, "could have been utilized for more important projects rather than the personal convenience of Roco."

The suit was the second complaint filed since two private citizens filed a complaint saying the former senator was criminally liable for illegally hiring consultants from his law office at the DepEd and using department funds to pay the salary of his wife’s driver. – Delon Porcalla