DPWH team submits World Bank rigging controversy report to Ebdane

MANILA, Philippines – The fact-finding committee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has finally submitted to Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. its report on the alleged rigging of the bidding process for infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank (WB).

Lawyer Oliver Rodulfo, a committee member and head of the DPWH-Internal Affairs Office, said that the probe team submitted the 30-page report to Ebdane three weeks ago after a three-month investigation.

Rodulfo, however, refused to divulge the contents of the report, saying that what they submitted to Ebdane were mere recommendations and may be rejected, accepted or returned to them.

“It would be difficult for us to release the report, it is still premature. We cannot reveal the contents (of the report) because it is still subject for review. It might be disapproved and subject to change,” he added.

Ebdane might also seek the opinion of his chief of staff and some consultants before making a decision.

“If the Secretary approves the recommendations in our report, if there are people who should be slapped with administrative liability then we would file cases against them,” he said.

Aside from Rodulfo, the two other members of the committee were DPWH Assistant Secretary Jaime Pacanan and Internal Audit Division chief Liza Mendenilla.

The committee had questioned retired DPWH directors Baliamen Mamaente, Lope Adriano and Mario Bandelaria.

Pacanan earlier said that the purpose of their probe was to assess if there was probable cause and if there was a need to conduct a deeper investigation to determine how they should deal with the seven contractors that were banned from the bidding for WB-funded infrastructure projects.

He clarified that the committee is only concerned with the administrative aspect of the allegations of bid-rigging of three projects of the National Roads Improvement and Management Program (NRIMP) phase 1.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is handling the probe on the criminal liabilities of concerned DPWH officials and contractors.

Ebdane was reportedly in Pampanga yesterday and could not be reached for comment.