Former Secretaries Abad & Singson May Face Criminal Liability for Alleged Involvement in Fake RROW Worth P8.7 Billion
Former Cabinet Members during the Aquino administration, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad may face criminal liability for their alleged involvement in fake road right-of-way (RROW) claims for government projects worth P8.7 billion in General Santos City according to the latest revelations released by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
According to Sec. Aguirre they based the allegations against the former Cabinet Members of the Aquino Administration, Secretary Singson and Secretary Abad on the testimony of a witness now under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Sec. Aguirre was quoted as saying "Based on their signatures in the documents submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NB)I and on the sinumpaang salaysay of our witness, some high ranking officials of the previous administration may have potential liabilities like former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson who apparently approved and requested the release of payment of fake RROW claims,” Aguirre told reporters.
Secretary Singson and Abad "may face potential criminal liability” for the scam that has defrauded government of at least PHP8.7-billion, covering more than 300 folders, based on the testimony of a witness “who is personally involved” in the syndicate, Aguirre said.
The DOJ stated further that former Budget Secretary Butch Abad under the Aquino administration who apparently approved the release of payment for illegal RROW claims as requested by DPWH Secretary Singson.
Secretary of Justice (SOJ) Aguirre also explained that "Based on initial reports submitted to me by the NBI, this criminal syndicate purportedly submitted 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,” he explained.
According to Aguirre the modus operandi of this syndicate is that it claims for ‘just compensation’ of road right of way which are intended for rightful owners who were affected by national highway construction at General Santos City.
The witness narrated how members of the syndicate would submit fake titles in the name of non-existent persons or not real landowners.
The syndicate would then allegedly secure payment using fake land titles. The scheme reportedly began in 2009.
“We have information that one claim for “just compensation” amounts to PHP29 million. 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 PHP8.7 billion,” Aguirre explained.
Aguirre said a witness gave the names of those allegedly involved namely: Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburan, Merceditas Dumlao and Nelson Ti, who is the group’s financier, a close friend of former President Aquino.
“I was also informed that for the syndicate to accomplish these apparently criminal acts, several public officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the City Assessor’s Office of General Santos, the Registry of Deeds, the Commission on Audit and the Regional Trial Courts have been identified by the said witness as having participated in the processing, approval and eventual release of payments to cover these dubious claims,” Aguirre stated.
When the former Cabinet Member, Secretary Abad was sought for comments, he denied the allegations and noted that the DPWH will be in the best position to shed light on the issue while former DPWH Secretary Singson refused to give a statement but noted that he will have to llok at the documents so he can comment on the allegations thrown at him.
Source: PNA
According to Sec. Aguirre they based the allegations against the former Cabinet Members of the Aquino Administration, Secretary Singson and Secretary Abad on the testimony of a witness now under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Sec. Aguirre was quoted as saying "Based on their signatures in the documents submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NB)I and on the sinumpaang salaysay of our witness, some high ranking officials of the previous administration may have potential liabilities like former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson who apparently approved and requested the release of payment of fake RROW claims,” Aguirre told reporters.
Secretary Singson and Abad "may face potential criminal liability” for the scam that has defrauded government of at least PHP8.7-billion, covering more than 300 folders, based on the testimony of a witness “who is personally involved” in the syndicate, Aguirre said.
The DOJ stated further that former Budget Secretary Butch Abad under the Aquino administration who apparently approved the release of payment for illegal RROW claims as requested by DPWH Secretary Singson.
Secretary of Justice (SOJ) Aguirre also explained that "Based on initial reports submitted to me by the NBI, this criminal syndicate purportedly submitted 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,” he explained.
According to Aguirre the modus operandi of this syndicate is that it claims for ‘just compensation’ of road right of way which are intended for rightful owners who were affected by national highway construction at General Santos City.
The witness narrated how members of the syndicate would submit fake titles in the name of non-existent persons or not real landowners.
The syndicate would then allegedly secure payment using fake land titles. The scheme reportedly began in 2009.
“We have information that one claim for “just compensation” amounts to PHP29 million. 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 PHP8.7 billion,” Aguirre explained.
Aguirre said a witness gave the names of those allegedly involved namely: Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburan, Merceditas Dumlao and Nelson Ti, who is the group’s financier, a close friend of former President Aquino.
“I was also informed that for the syndicate to accomplish these apparently criminal acts, several public officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the City Assessor’s Office of General Santos, the Registry of Deeds, the Commission on Audit and the Regional Trial Courts have been identified by the said witness as having participated in the processing, approval and eventual release of payments to cover these dubious claims,” Aguirre stated.
When the former Cabinet Member, Secretary Abad was sought for comments, he denied the allegations and noted that the DPWH will be in the best position to shed light on the issue while former DPWH Secretary Singson refused to give a statement but noted that he will have to llok at the documents so he can comment on the allegations thrown at him.
Source: PNA
Former Secretaries Abad & Singson May Face Criminal Liability for Alleged Involvement in Fake RROW Worth P8.7 Billion
Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
November 28, 2017
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Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
November 28, 2017
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