Graft court convicts 11 for DPWH scam

After more than a decade, the Sandiganbayan convicted 11 people in connection with a  conspiracy to steal about P13 million in public funds through anomalous transactions for the repair of  service vehicles  in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The transactions happened in the early years of the Arroyo administration.

The antigraft court’s Fourth Division issued three decisions on Nov. 21 regarding the scam, giving credence to the prosecution’s evidence.

The court found that the accused officials split the contracts to circumvent procurement rules and undertook the repairs though they were  not urgent or absolutely necessary at the time.

They were also found to have falsified supporting documents for hundreds of transactions, including job orders, inspection reports, requisition for supplies and equipment, accreditation papers, sales invoices and receipts, acceptance reports, certificates of emergency purchase, and canvas and price monitoring sheets.

The court said the reimbursements for the repairs “were actually false claims that formed part of sinister schemes to steal government funds.”

Then DPWH Administrative, Manpower and Management Service director Burt Favorito, Bureau of Equipment assistant director Florendo Arias, and bureau section chiefs Maximo Borje and Erdito Quarto were sentenced to a maximum of 60 years in prison for three counts of estafa through falsification of documents, and a maximum of 30 years for three counts of graft.

They were also ordered to pay  the government  P13.04 million as civil liability.

Meanwhile,  equipment inspector Rolando Castillo and storekeeper Felipe San Jose were sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison for two counts of estafa and 20 years for graft. They were also directed to produce to P12.69 million to indemnify the government.

Intelligence and investigation division head Nelson Umali was also sentenced to a maximum of 20 years for estafa and 10 years for graft, and ordered to pay P7.52 million.

Supplier Conchita dela Cruz was  sentenced to imprisonment of up to 20 years for estafa and 10 years for graft, and ordered to indemnify the government P5.17 million. Suppliers Janette Bugayong, Vicente Santos, Jr., and Augusto Capuz got a maximum of 20 years for estafa and 10 years for graft, with the indemnity set at P7.52 million.