At least two Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in Bulacan squandered more than P300 million each in casino gambling, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson bared Monday.
During the interpellation of his Aug. 20 privilege speech on substandard and ghost flood control projects, Lacson said he has given advance information of these two officials to new DPWH head Vince Dizon.
“The two of them, as per my information, used aliases. They hid their true identities, and used fictitious names,” Lacson said. He said one is a district engineer and another is a minor functionary.
“So you can just imagine the enormity of the corruption that is going on. This is only in Bulacan,” he added. He said he got hold of the aliases they used, so authorities can identify them or get the records of their winnings and losses.
In Filipino: Lacson: 2 DPWH Bulacan Officials, Natalo ng Tig-P300M sa Casino Gambling
Lacson said he relayed the information to Dizon through one of Dizon’s prospective staff who used to work with Lacson in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Citing the initial information he received, Lacson said both officials hold positions with Salary Grade 19 or less.
Lacson noted a memorandum circular issued in 2016 explicitly prohibits government officials from gambling in casinos. He added Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code criminalizes the public use of a fictitious name to conceal a crime.
Also, Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct for government officials, provides up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to P5,000, and possible perpetual disqualification from government service.
Lacson noted as well the syndicate-like activities of DPWH officials like those in the Bulacan 1st engineering district, including the “borrowing” of contractors’ licenses to implement projects.
He also cited information reaching him that former district engineer Brice Hernandez and company resorted to forging the signatures of the inspection team.
“So there was no inspection but there are the signatures of officials who were paid. So this is how bad and greedy they have gotten. Instead of a substandard project, they did not implement it at all just so the entire budget for the project will go to their casino gambling,” he said in Filipino.
Because of this, Lacson said it may be a good idea to pursue legislation penalizing the lending and borrowing of licenses with heavy fines and even imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he is confident that Dizon can restore public trust in the DPWH in the wake of the flood control project mess.
“All I can say is that the President made a very good choice in the person of Sec. Dizon. Being an action man, he will initiate an extensive investigation on the anomalies involving flood control projects. In fact I heard he already ordered the submission of courtesy resignations of all officials with the rank of undersecretary and below, and I think that’s a good start,” he added.
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Lacson: 2 DPWH Bulacan Officials, Natalo ng Tig-P300M sa Casino Gambling
Hindi bababa sa dalawang opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa Bulacan ang natalo ng hindi bababa sa tig-P300 milyon sa casino gambling, ibinunyag ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Sa interpellation ng kanyang Agosto 20 privilege speech ukol sa substandard at ghost flood control projects, sinabi ni Lacson na naibigay na niya ang paunang impormasyon hinggil sa dalawang opisyal kay bagong DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
“The two of them, as per my information, used aliases. They hid their true identities, and used fictitious names,” ani Lacson, at idinagdag na isa ay district engineer at ang isa ay mas minor functionary.
“So you can just imagine the enormity of the corruption that is going on. This is only in Bulacan,” dagdag pa niya. Sinabi rin niyang hawak niya ang mga alias na ginamit ng mga opisyal kaya’t mas madali para sa mga awtoridad na matukoy sila o makuha ang rekord ng kanilang panalo at pagkatalo sa casino.
Ani Lacson, ibinigay niya ang impormasyon kay Dizon sa pamamagitan ng prospective staff niya na nakatrabaho ni Lacson sa Philippine National Police (PNP).
Batay sa impormasyong kanyang natanggap, may Salary Grade 19 o mas mababa ang mga naturang opisyal.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na may memorandum circular na inilabas noong 2016 na mahigpit na nagbabawal sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na magsugal sa casino. Dagdag pa niya, itinatakda ng Article 178 ng Revised Penal Code na krimen ang paggamit ng pekeng pangalan upang itago ang isang krimen.
Bukod dito, nakasaad sa Republic Act 6713 o Code of Conduct para sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno ang parusang hanggang limang taong pagkakakulong, multang hanggang P5,000, at posibleng habambuhay na diskwalipikasyon sa paghawak ng posisyon sa gobyerno.
Binanggit din ni Lacson ang umano’y sindikatong gawain ng ilang opisyal ng DPWH tulad ng sa Bulacan 1st Engineering District, kabilang na ang “paghiram” ng lisensya ng mga kontratista para sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto.
Ibinunyag pa niya ang impormasyong nakarating sa kanya na si dating district engineer Brice Hernandez at ang kanyang grupo ay gumagamit umano ng pekeng pirma ng inspection team.
“Walang nangyaring inspection pero may pirma so nabayaran. So ganoon kasama na, at ganoon kagahaman na. Kasi sa halip na substandard hindi na talaga ginawa para ang buong budget para sa project, nilaro sa casino,” ani Lacson.
Dahil dito, iminungkahi ni Lacson na pag-aralan ang paggawa ng batas na magpapataw ng mabibigat na multa at pagkakakulong laban sa pagpapahiram at panghihiram ng lisensya.
Samantala, tiwala si Lacson na mababawi ni Dizon ang tiwala ng publiko sa DPWH sa gitna ng mga anomalya sa flood control projects.
“All I can say is that the President made a very good choice in the person of Sec. Dizon. Being an action man, he will initiate an extensive investigation on the anomalies involving flood control projects. In fact I heard he already ordered the submission of courtesy resignations of all officials with the rank of undersecretary and below, and I think that’s a good start,” dagdag niya.
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Hi Sen. Lacson, pls don’t just look at People implementing these projects but also the Politicians who are the actual backers of these unscrupolous people and criminality.