Ex-DPWH chief vows to unmask Aguirre’s witness in scam

Former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson on Tuesday said he was ready to expose the supposed whistleblower who accused him, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and Eldon Cruz, brother-in-law of former President Benigno Aquino III, of involvement in a right-of-way scam in General Santos City.

Singson told the Inquirer in a text message that the letter allegedly sent to him by Cruz, asking for an endorsement to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), was “fake.”

“The accusation is based on a letter claimed to be sent by Eldon to (Secretary) DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). All fake and I have received quite a few similar letters using big names. The accuser seems to be a member of the land scam syndicate which has been operating in Region 12 even before July 2010,” Singson said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II presented his witness, Roberto Catapang Jr., to the media on Monday.

“We will expose who is Mr. Catapang. He is asking for his share of commission from the land claimants which apparently he was not able to get. Away ng mga ahente ito (This is a fight among agents),” Singson added.

Catapang claimed Cruz, husband of Aquino’s eldest sister, Ballsy, wrote to Singson in January 2011 asking him to endorse to the DBM the release of payments for a bogus road right-of-way claims in General Santos City, amounting to P8.7 billion.

The alleged Cruz letter, however, did not bear his name, and only his supposed signature.

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