Expedite filing of cases, pleads whistleblower in ‘RROW Scam’

GENERAL SANTOS CITY- A whistleblower in a multi-billion road-right-of way (RROW) scam has asked President Duterte to expedite the filing of criminal cases against the officials involved in the spurious expropriation claims of lands at the Department of Public Works and Highways.

In a letter addressed to Duterte, Roberto Catapang Jr, the self-confessed member of a syndicate involved in the processing of fake documents for the payment of RROW claims with the DPWH, appealed to the President to expedite the filing of criminal cases against all those involved in the scandal that was also the subject of a probe by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, on the motion of Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao in 2017.

Catapang, who hailed from this city, lamented that the case is still pending for almost three years with the Ombudsman after he exposed the modus operandi of the syndicate during the Senate investigation.

Catapang, who was placed under the ‘Witness Protection Program’ (WPP) of the Justice Department, alleged that the syndicate has reportedly shifted its operation to Region 6 from Region 12.

Following Catapang’s exposé  the National Bureau of Investigation has filed in March 2018 graft charges against ranking DPWH officials including former DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson.

Aside from Singson, named respondents were David L. Padlan, OIC-Chief Planning and Design Division of DPWH Region 12; Hadji Ibrahim A. Marohom, (retired) Chief Finance Division of DPWH Region 12;

Atty. Faisal A. Padate, (retired) Chief Legal Unit of DPWH; Tomas M. Rodriguez, (retired) Assistant Regional Director of DPWH Region 12; Siniloan T. Macarambon, (retired) Regional Director of DPWH Region 12;

Engr. Rodel L. Unos, former Special Agent II of the DPWH’s Technical Working Group (TWG); Ansare M. Busran, Legal Officer III of DPWH 12;

Reynaldo S. Tamayo, former DPWH-12 Regional Director (retired), Noraisa U. Abdullah, Accountant IV of DPWH 12; Julieta P. Marundan, Chief Finance Division of DPWH 12;

Nassef A. Papandayan, Accountant III of DPWH 12; Laurean B. Suan Jr., former Assistant Regional Director (retired); Subair S. Diron, Former Regional Director of DPWH 12; Israel L. Balolong, Engineer II of DPWH 12;

Roger A. Oducayen, Engineer III of DPWH 12, Ser John Pastrana, Chief Micrographings Division from the Land Registration Authority (LRA); Edgar G. Pampanga, OIC-Register of Deeds in General Santos City.

Also included in the complaint are resident auditors from the Commission on Audit (COA) at the DPWH Region 12 namely Carmencita Eden T. Talub and Elmina P. Buenbrazo.

The NBI also included in the complaint private individuals namely Atty. Jose Emilio Valentin, Atty. Bonifacio Doria, Paul Michael P. Bagio, Marisa Tiongson Seguirre, William P. Uy, Marie Faye Villamarin, Mary Ann Joyce, Nelson Ti, the alleged leader of the syndicate and his cohorts, Wilma Olarte Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburam, Mercedita Dumlao, Evelyn Paloso and Rudy Haji Ong.

During the Senate hearing, Catapang alleged that the syndicate in connivance with concerned public officials produced fake documents including land titles which were submitted to the DPWH as requirements for the payment of road-right-of way claims for lands expropriated by the government in the construction of highways in the city.

He said the syndicate had connived with retired DPWH-12 director Reynaldo Tamayo Sr. who approved the payment for the spurious RROW claims.

He said the syndicate, which has established a well-entrenched connection at the DPWH, is reportedly back to its illicit business, but this time in Iloilo City.

“I appeal to President Duterte for the indictment of the members of the syndicate and their cohorts at the DPWH and other government agencies who remain unscathed,” Catapang said.

The syndicate has reportedly processed the payment for RROW claims amounting to P7 billion from 2010 to 2016.

Duterte last month said that he will order a reinvestigation on the RROW scam amid the reported widespread corruption at the DPWH (contributed by Joseph Jubelag)