13 ex-PEA execs get 8 years

MANILA, Philippines - With a price tag of P800 million, the 5.1-kilometer Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard was considered one of the world’s most expensive roads and believed overpriced by P100 million.

Now 13 former officials of the Public Estates Authority (PEA) will serve up to eight years in prison after they were convicted of graft for the overpriced project.

Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson
Asryman Rafanan announced yesterday that the Sandiganbayan had found the former PEA board members guilty of involvement in the anomaly.

Those convicted were Manuel Berina Jr., Jaime Milla, Bernardo Viray, Theron Victor Lacson, Raphael Pocholo Zorilla, Cristina Amposta Mortel, Frisco Francisco San Juan, Carmelita de Leon Chan, Daniel Dayaw, Salvador Malbarosa, Leo Padilla, Elpidio Damaso and Jesusito Legaspi.

Rafanan said the Sandiganbayan has also directed the former PEA officials to reimburse the government a little over P100 million representing the overprice amount or improper contract price adjustment.

He explained that the road project was implemented through simplified public bidding despite lack of funds and without presidential approval, which resulted in overpricing.

The charges were filed in 2003 after the Office of the Ombudsman found the public officials liable for conniving to overprice the 5.1-kilometer highway.

Government lawyers then found that PEA officials conspired to unlawfully pay contractor J.D. Legaspi construction firm an amount that was clearly improper, illegal and without the requisite presidential approval.

The Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, designed to lighten traffic along Roxas Boulevard and the Coastal Road in Parañaque City, was originally estimated at P500 million, but the amount swelled to P800 million, allegedly due to cost padding.