Gov’t witness links more DPWH execs in alleged road right-of-way scam in Gen San

Aside from former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, other Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials were likewise allegedly involved in the purported P8.7 billion road right-of-way scam in General Santos City.

In a presentation he made during the Senate hearing on the controversy on Monday, government witness Roberto Catapang claimed that Estrella Decena-Zaldifar, Director for Legal Service, Patrick Gatan, Project Director Floor Control Management Cluster, and Region 12 Director Reynaldo Tamayo were also part of the alleged syndicate.

According to Catapang, Tamayo received a commission from a certain Wilma Mamburam, head of the alleged syndicate, after supposedly approving a claimant’s document.

“Reynaldo Tamayo, Regional Director DPWH Region 12, approved the bogus claims, received 20% commission from Wilma,” he said during the Senate hearing.

The investigation on the road right-of-way issue was initiated by Senator Manny Pacquiao, chairman of the committee on public works.

Reports said that Catapang was supposedly the one who processed the false claims for the syndicate; and that he claimed that the alleged road right-of-scam started in 2009 by using over 300 fake claims.                        /kga