21 DPWH execs face estafa raps

The Ombudsman filed estafa and falsification charges yesterday against 21 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and nine of the department’s suppliers in connection with the P38.8-million vehicle repair scam.

Prosecutors led by acting deputy special prosecutor Humphrey Monteroso recommended bail bonds of P40,000 for each of the accused DPWH officials led by motor pool chief Maximo Borje, who had just been cleared of plunder charges.

In three separate charge sheets, prosecutors said the DPWH officials conspired with the accused suppliers in forging documents that showed there were purchases and repairs, even though they "knew full well" that no such repairs of purchases took place.

The prosecutors cited three separate incidents from March to December 2001 wherein the accused agreed to make it appear as if there were purchases worth P25 million, P7.5 million and P6.3 million for a total expenditure of P38.8 million.

The prosecutors also said the accused DPWH officials caused the payment of "fictitious" expenses that resulted in "the loss of much-needed government funds to the damage and prejudice of the government." He also said the accused officials released the money despite knowledge that "there were no emergency repairs of DPWH vehicles."

The suppliers named were Janette Bugayong, Jesus Capuz, Nonette and Romeo Fullido, Victoria Maniego-Go, Vicente Santos Jr., Rodellia Uy, Augusto Capuz and Conchita dela Cruz. Listed as witnesses in the cases were Irene Ofilada of DPWH’s internal audit service, Luisito Tablan of the department’s special inspectorate team and his colleagues Raul Borillo and Luis Gayya.

The Second Division of the Sandiganbayan earlier dismissed the plunder charges against Borje, 19 other DPWH officials, and 10 private individuals over the P134-million vehicle repair scam.

Chief Special State Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio said there was documentary evidence to prove that these government officials and private individuals connived to make it appear as if vehicles in the DPWH motor pool underwent repairs, though no repairs were actually made.