5 PEA execs get 90-day suspension for P630-M overprice

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Reclamation Authority (formerly Public Estates Authority) has suspended five of its top officials over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. in Pasay City.

Suspended for 90 days were PRA deputy general manager for finance and legal administration Theron Victor Lacson; assistant general manager Jaime Millan; technical services department manager Bernardo Viray; project management officer Raphael Pochollo Zorilla; and legal department manager Cristina Amposta-Mortel.

PRA chairman Ramon Revilla Sr. said he ordered the preventive suspension of the five officials in compliance with the July 30 order of the first division of the Sandiganbayan.

In a report filed with the anti-graft court, Revilla said the suspension has been in effect since last Aug. 4 and will last until Nov. 2.

In the information filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, the five officials were accused of conspiring to defraud the government by padding the construction cost of the controversial five-kilometer road that was named after the former president and father of President Arroyo.

Prosecutors recommended their indictment for graft after finding ample evidence of overpricing by more than P630 million on the project cost of P1.1 billion. Private contractor Jesusito Legaspi was also named defendant in the case.

The Commission on Audit has yet to file a report of compliance on another order to suspend state auditor Manuela dela Paz, state auditor and technical services division chief Arturo Layug, supervising technical audit specialist Benilda Mendoza, assistant chief of technical services Epifanio Pureza, technical specialist Jose Capistrano, and technical audit specialist Ma. Cecilia dela Rama. – Edu Punay