4 DPWH execs in Quezon to face plunder charges

A former local official in Quezon province is set to file plunder charges against four provincial officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for allegedly seeking funding for an already completed road project. Mabini Asia, a former counselor, was quoted in a radio dzMM report as saying that the four officials had asked the local government for an additional P60-million fund in 2008 for the Mulanay-San Francisco road project – an undertaking that was completed in 2004. Accused of conspiring to get the additional funding are DPWH-Quezon (3rd district) engineer Rogelio Rejano; engineer George Pacia, officer in charge of the Construction Section; OIC assistant district engineer Marcelito Ferrer, and a certain Oscar Carpio. Asia also said contractors who participated in the road extension project could also be held liable if proven that they allowed their names to be used in the proposal so that the additional funding could be approved. The announcement was made during a press conference in Quezon City on Tuesday, but as of posting time, Asia has yet to file the charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. Politically motivated Rejano, interviewed by GMANews.TV, said the P60-million fund was for the extension of the Mulanay-San Francisco Road. “Mahaba pa kasi ang gravel roads doon kaya ginamit iyon para ma-complete ang critical sections at magkaroon ng dugtong (The gravel roads were still long. We used the money to complete paving the critical sections and have an extension of the road)," he said. The road extension project was carried out to pave the road going further to Barangays (villages) San Isidro and Butanyog in Mulanay, he added. Rejano said he had already submitted last December 9 a detailed liquidation report for the additional expense after DPWH Secretary for Operations Romeo Momo demanded for an explanation on the allegations. He said he is open to a reinvestigation of how the fund was disbursed. Asked what could have motivated Asia to press charges before the Ombudsman, Rejano said it could have been politically motivated, noting that his brother, Potenciano Rejano, is running for vice mayor of Mulanay town against the wife of incumbent mayor Prudencio Maxino, in the May elections. “Asia used to work as councilor of the local government," he said when asked on the connection between Asia and Maxino. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV