Ex-DPWH chief Rogelio Singson faces graft raps

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has filed graft complaints against former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson over the alleged multi-billion right of roadway scam.

 

In a statement, the NBI said Singson and more than 20 former and current DPWH officials and employees are now facing complaints of violating the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

 

The complaint was filed early Wednesday morning before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

The NBI said their probe stemmed from a letter of Roberto Catapang Jr. who came forward to the Department of Justice last year to detail the said scam in Region 12.

 

Catapang—now a state witness—then tagged former President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet officials, including former budget chief Florencio Abad.

 

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre earlier explained that the scheme was done by submitting "fake titles in the name of non-existent persons to allow them to claim from the DPWH the just compensation from the expropriation of land which will be supposedly occupied by government projects."

 

 

"In his affidavit, Catapang said that members of the syndicate in collusion with DPWH officials and employees fabricates and submits fake documents such as land titles, special power of attorney, tax declarations, appraisal reports and other supporting documents submitted to the DPWH," the NBI said.

 

No complaint has been filed yet against Abad.

 

The NBI said their investigation took six months. It added that they requested 50 disbursement vouchers from the DPWH, but only received seven.

 

The said seven disbursement vouchers have nine claimants who were paid the full amount of P255,549,000 in five tranches. Upon investigation, the NBI found out that the claimants' supporting documents, which include identification cards, "are all spurious."