Raps vs DPWH execs in Malampaya projects dropped

The deputy Ombudsman for Luzon has cleared officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region IV-B (Mimaropa) and several private contractors of all criminal and administrative charges filed in connection with the construction of P420 million worth of infrastructure projects financed with Malampaya gas share funds.

Cleared in an 81-page resolution signed by Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard A. Mosquera were DPWH officials Ramon P. Camacho Jr., OIC, Palawan 2nd engineering office; Nestor D. de la Cruz, assistant district engineer; Mario G. Soriano, construction section chief; Rody A. Angulo, maintenance section chief, Ma. Fe Cayao, engineer II; Francisco L. Dacasin, planning section chief;  Dominador Alonzabe, material testing and quality control; Eddie R. Uy, head of the bids and awards committee-technical working group; administrative officer Lorenzo Rodriguez and resident auditor Maximo Montealegre.

Also cleared were private respondents Josephine de la Fuente of Ivy Michelle Construction, Nirmla F. de Guzman of Chrishelle Construction, Armandro Lustre Jr. of A.R. Lustre Jr. Construction, Arnulfo F. Gonzaga of Orani Builders, Rosanno C. Tagala of R.C. Tagala Construction, Bella Tiotangco of BCT Trading and Construction, Bonifacio M. Carlos of BM Carlos Construction and E.D. Tabangay Construction, and Jesus L. Tan and Ulysses Consebido of Seven Digit Construction Supply.

In dismissing the charges, graft and investigation officer II Irmina Bautista and zero backlog unit evaluation and investigation office head Margie Fernandez-Calpatura pointed to insufficiency of evidence as the reason. Mosquera approved the resolution on March 19.

The complaints were filed in 2009 by the late orthopedic surgeon and environment and anticorruption activist Jose Antonio Socrates who died on Sept. 23, 2012.

The resolution said there was no basis for the complainant’s allegations that the contracts were revised as to scope and plans without justification or authorization.

It dismissed the allegations of irregularities in the bidding process, of overpricing of construction materials, cost-padding in the rental of heavy equipment and falsification of accomplishment reports.

“From the case records, we note the accusations were based purely on complainant’s observations and personal computations. There was no clear showing complainant is an expert on the matters or that he based his observations and computations on actual inspection of the projects,” the resolution said.