DPWH personnel involved in scam go ‘on leave’

All those who have been implicated in the P134-million vehicle repair scam in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) went "on leave" before the filing of plunder charges were announced by the Office of the Ombudsman last Friday.

DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said the personnel records showed the 20 officials and employees implicated in the scam had filed their respective leaves of absences for various reasons.

Yabut said many of those leaves had not been approved and there was no indication that they would return to work.

"Many of these leave applications are undergoing process but it has not been approved because they are yet to submit some documents," Yabut said.

Nonetheless, employees concerned went on leave, he said.

Yabut cited a case where one unidentified employee implicated in the scam filed a leave of absence as early as Jan. 1 and has not reported for work since then.

Another of the accused was also reported to have fled to Hong Kong also in the same month and has not returned.

Yabut could not tell whether all of those who went on leave will report for work, but said one of the accused is on maternity leave.

"Of course their leaves have a definite period but we would have to check their leave applications to find out," Yabut said.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio said the 20 DPWH officials and employees, as well the 10 private individuals implicated in the scam, may soon face arrest.

Last Friday, Villa Ignacio announced the filing of plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan against the 30 accused in the vehicle repair scam.

The Ombudsman said it would also ask for a hold- departure order and cancellation of the passports of the accused.

Taking note that most of the accused might have fled the country or gone into hiding, the Sandiganbayan moved Thursday to expedite the plunder charges after it granted the request of Villa Ignacio to have the case immediately raffled and assigned to one of the anti-graft court’s five divisions.

The case was assigned to the second division headed by Justice Edilberto Sandoval.

The charges stemmed from the vehicle repair disbursements involving 521 vehicles of the department and about 7,000 vouchers, many of which were found to be ghost repairs, exorbitant, and repetitive.

The vehicle repairs were so blatant they were "absurd," the Ombudsman said.

Funds intended for other expenditures were also found diverted to cover the cost of the never-ending repairs.

Aside from the 20 DPWH employees, 10 repair shop owners were also charged for conniving with the employees.

The scam was pulled off by requesting for repairs on a vehicle, which are then approved by DPWH motorpool officials.

Although no actual repair is made, the repair shop issues a bill and the DPWH finance personnel issues the checks to pay for them. In the end, everybody involved in the scam will have a share of the pie.

The scam was believed to be ongoing for several years before it was exposed in early 2002.

The Ombudsman said one of the respondents, DPWH motorpool chief Maximo Borje was the "hub" of the scam where he personally raked in P82.3 million in "reimbursements" from March to December 2001.

Three employees, who were said to be privy to the scam, came forward to expose the anomaly and were subsequently made state witnesses by the Ombudsman.

Villa Ignacio said the three witnesses were not among the most guilty and could be placed under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Aside from Borje, among those charged were DPWH directors Burt Favorito, Florendo Arias, and personnel Erdito Quarta, Agerico Palaypay, Napoleon Anas, Danilo Planta, Luisito de la Rosa, Rogelio Beray, Norma Villarmino, Ricardo Juan, Nelson Umali, Ma. Luisa Cruz.

Also charged were employees Melissa Espina, Violeta Tadeo, Jessica Catibayan, Violeta Amar, Ronaldo Simbahan, Felipe San Jose and Rolando Castillo.

Among the private individuals included in the charge sheet were vehicle spare parts suppliers Conchita de la Cruz, Janette Bugayong, Jesus Capuz, Rodellia Uy, Romeo Fullido, Nanette Fullido, Victoria Go, Carmelito Edem, Augusto Capuz and Vicente Santos Jr.