MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation to find out if former officials of the Aquino administration had a hand in the alleged right of way racket in General Santos City, which supposedly defrauded the government with close to P9 billion in public funds.
According to Aguirre, the NBI has a witness to the supposed anomaly, who used to be part a criminal syndicate whose modus operandi was to submit fake titles to secure payment in exchange for landholdings that would be used for government road right of way projects.
“I have instructed the NBI to continue its case build-up in order to further strengthen the case which most likely will include several high ranking officials of the Aquino administration,” the DOJ chief said at a press briefing on Friday.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways chief Rogelio Singson and other ex-officials allegedly “approved” and “requested the release” of payments for the claims of the fake landowners, based on the signatures of syndicate members in the documents furnished to the NBI by the witness and the latter’s sworn statement, according to Aguirre.
Former Department of Budget and Management chief Florencio Abad “who apparently approved” the release of payment “as requested by” Singson might also face criminal liability,” he added.
“From 2009 when the syndicate started to operate, the members of this syndicate were able to process more than 300 folders containing fake road-right-of-way amounting to more or less P8.7 billion,” the DOJ chief said.
“We have information that one claim for ‘just compensation’ amounts to Php 29 million pesos,” he added.
Aguirre said among the persons identified by the witness as being allegedly involved in the fraudulent activity are a certain Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburan, Merceditas Dumlao and Nelson Ti.
“Our witness further revealed that Mr. Nelso Ti, the financier of the group is a close relative of Domingo Lee, Philippine envoy to China, and is supposedly close to former President Benigno Aquino III,” he said.
The DOJ has provisionally placed the unnamed whistle-blower under the agency’s Witness Protection Program, according to Aguirre.
“In addition, I am taking this opportunity to invite all other persons who have personal knowledge of this scam to come forward and to communicate what they know to help us further solidify the case that we will file,'” said Aguirre.
“If you are listening, we give you our solemn reassurance that we shall treat your information and identity with utmost confidentiality and we will place you under our Witness Protection Program,” he added.
