Ombudsman orders DPWH-NCR chief axed

MANILA, Philippines - Modifying its earlier decision to impose a minimal punishment and fine, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered yesterday a ranking Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for falsifying his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from 1972 to 2002.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro said National Capital Region (NCR) director Josefino Rigor, who was almost able to escape liability with only a minimal fine of P1,000 for simple negligence on April 29, committed serious dishonesty and falsification of public documents for 30 years.

Casimiro said DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson appealed the original ruling, believing that the penalty imposed was too soft.

After re-evaluating the allegations and the evidence against Rigor, the Ombudsman said Rigor deliberately and willfully failed to disclose properties registered in the name of his wife, Anastacia Corpus, from 1999 to 2002. These include business interests in Kontrata Construction and Development Corp. and Disneyland Bus Line, Inc.

The Office of the Ombudsman eventually discovered that there are two different versions of the SALNs from 1972 to 1998 as those he submitted to the anti-graft agency do not bear markings that they were officially received by the DPWH. Rigor’s SALNS from 1981 to 1998 are likewise not subscribed as required by law.

“From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there was malice or willful intention on the part of Josefino Rigor to commit a dishonest act when he surreptitiously reconstructed his old SALNs and misrepresented these reconstructed documents as copies of then existing in the DPWH official records,” Casimiro said, ordering the DPWH to immediately implement the dismissal order.

Singson said he is pleased to hear the Ombudsman heeded his appeal, adding that he has already dismissed Rigor sometime this year. – With Evelyn Macairan