MANILA, Philippines—The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has charged 53 individuals for the allegedly anomalous implementation of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) projects in the Caraga region worth P119 million.
Among the respondents in a 85-page complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 9184 or the Procurement Law were former NIA Regional Managers Modesto Membreve and Dexter Patrocinio, and current Caraga Regional Manager Encarnacion Soriano.
The filing of the cases was the result of a probe conducted by a joint special investigating team, composed of several government agencies.
President Benigno Aquino III had ordered the team to investigate the NIA projects in Caraga, particularly in Agusan del Norte, due to allegations that the procurement and implementation of seven projects were tainted with anomalies and irregularities, said CIDG spokesperson Chief Insp. Elizabeth Jasmin.
Jasmin said the completion of the P119 million worth of NIA irrigation projects in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, that began in 2012 was allegedly delayed without valid cause.
“The funds were already released in early 2012 to the implementing NIA regional office in Caraga, but up to the present, the projects are still not finished,” the official said.
The projects should have been completed by the first quarter of 2013.
The cases filed last Monday covered three of the projects. The cases for the four remaining projects will be filed before the Ombudsman by the end of the month.
The five winning bidders were reportedly from Region III.
Senior Supt. Rudy Lacadin, CIDG deputy chief for operations, said technical specialists also found that the materials used in the said projects were of substandard quality.
“The projects have not been completed and were not done according to the prescribed specifications,” he said in an interview, adding that the projects were now being hastily completed because of the ongoing probe.
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