Ombudsman files cases over P491.9M GenSan right-of-way scam
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation cases over an alleged P491.9 million right-of-way scam in General Santos City.
The cases before the Sandiganbayan involve six former Department of Public Works and Highways officials and seven private individuals.
Ombudsman personnel brought stacks of case documents to the anti-graft court on Tuesday, November 3, more than a week after the agency announced its findings against the respondents.
The Ombudsman filed 18 counts of malversation of public funds or property through falsification of public documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, and another 18 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The charges stemmed from three investigation reports submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation in 2018 and 2019 concerning right-of-way payments for 18 parcels of land supposedly affected by the construction of the Digos-Makar National Road in Lagao, General Santos City.
According to a 2017 sworn statement by witness Roberto Catapang Jr., he participated in an alleged syndicate that colluded with government officials to obtain public funds using falsified documents.
The Ombudsman said the DPWH Region XII Technical Working Group approved the disbursement of P491,931,120.20 to claimants who were later found to have submitted falsified documents.
Investigators also found the alleged unlawful use of a 2009 property appraisal rate of P3,500 per square meter to calculate compensation for properties taken by the government in the early 1990s.
According to the Ombudsman, the use of the later appraisal rate resulted in inflated right-of-way claims.
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