Roco under probe by anti-graft body?

Is he a grafter using public funds in an early campaign for the presidency in 2004, or is he being taken out as a possible rival?

President Arroyo has reportedly asked the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to look into a graft complaint filed by the Department of Education (DepEd) employees’ union against Education Secretary Raul Roco.

The President’s imprimatur for the investigation of Roco was reportedly contained in a marginal note on the letter sent to her by the DepEd Central Office Employees Union, which was forwarded to PAGC Chairman Dario Rama.

The marginal note was dated Aug. 1 — the day that the Ibon Foundation released its survey results indicating that Roco would beat Mrs. Arroyo if a presidential election was held during the survey period last month.

But Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday he was not aware of any such presidential endorsement of the graft complaint against Roco by the DepEd employees’ union.

The DepEd Union accused Roco of misusing public funds for the production of controversial posters which contain his picture and are allegedly part of his political ambitions for the presidency in 2004.

Roco refused yesterday to comment on the President’s reported endorsement of the graft complaint against him.

Roco’s chief of staff Hilda Villadolid said in a telephone interview that Roco had "no reaction" on the matter.

The DepEd union also said in their letter to the President that they sought Roco’s ouster from the department for his "dictatorial management style" and corrupt practices.

DepEd union president Domingo Alidon told The STAR they would soon be filing graft cases against Roco before the Office of the Ombudsman and before a "quasi-judicial body" that he refused to identify.

Alidon also spoke about the posters with Roco’s photo: "We believe that the posters were meant to make (Roco) known in the provinces to boost his presidential bid in 2004. There is no other reason."

Besides this, the DepEd union will also focus on Roco’s hiring of a helicopter during an inspection of various schools in the north last year.

"That was unnecessary and a waste of the public money. He could have used his service car," Alidon said.