00:00As the investigation widens and more names surface, the anti-graph body is tightening the screws on DPWH personnel and private contractors accused of conspiring to release funds for a project that was never built. In this report.
00:14The Office of the Ombudsman has filed cases of malversation of public funds through falsification of documents and violation of the Anti-Graph and Corrupt Practices Act against Sara Diskaya, another official of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and eight officials of the DPWH-Davo Occidental District Engineering Office.
00:35This is in connection with the alleged ghost flood control project worth P96.5 million in Barangay Colaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davo Occidental, which was awarded in 2022.
00:47According to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, the Office of the Ombudsman has recommended no bail for the malversation case. He said that based on the complaint, they allegedly conspired to release the funds for the project.
00:57Apart from Diskaya, the respondents include Maria Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, while the eight officials of the DPWH-Davo Occidental District Engineering Office include District Engineer Rodrigo Larete, Assistant District Engineer Michael Awa, and other six individuals composed of section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors.
01:17The Office of the Ombudsman will also request a whole departure order against them.
01:20In addition, the DPWH officials who are respondents in the case have also been placed under preventive suspension for six months for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.
01:29He said that based on the conducted inspection and witnesses, no actual construction took place at the site.
01:35Respondents certified that the project was completed.
01:40They are found to have falsified accomplishment reports, issued fraudulent billing documents, and endorsed disbursement vouchers that triggered the release of the entire project cost.
01:55He said this was confirmed through the on-ground inspection conducted by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
02:02It was found that the construction began only after the issue of blood control project came out.
02:06Clabano explained that the Office of the Ombudsman filed the case with the Regional Trial Court in Vigo City because the highest salary grade involved is salary grade 25, which falls under the court's jurisdiction.
02:18Now, it is still possible that there are proponents in this case that have yet to be uncovered.
02:24But as of right now, and given the counter affidavits of the respondents, wala pa po tayo yung nakikita.
02:31So, we went ahead and filed the case, but that does not stop us from collecting more evidence that will show that there are proponents or higher officials involved in this case.
02:45Meanwhile, three cases, bid-brieging and violations of the Anti-Grav and Correct Practices Act were endorsed by the Department of Justice to the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday after having undergone preliminary investigation by the department.
02:59And this will be deputies back to the DOJ for the continued investigation.
03:02Regarding the referral submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure this Tuesday, where former Senator Bong Rovilla Jr. and other individuals are being recommended to be charged,
03:12and for further investigation toward case build-up against Senator Chis Escudero, Senator Mark Villar, and former Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Po,
03:19Clabano said this will still undergo additional fuck-finding.
03:22Even if the case has been recommended for filing, it will still undergo an independent evaluation here in the Office of the Ombudsman to really see whether or not the cases are ready for preliminary investigation.
03:37The Office of the Ombudsman will also form a fact-finding body regarding the resigned DOJ Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz, who was implicated in the flood control project issue.
03:46The Office of the Ombudsman is awaiting the decision of the Sandigan Bion regarding the cancellation of the passport of former Akubicol representative Saldiko.
03:54Also, it is finalizing guidelines for live-streaming the agency's preliminary investigations.
03:59Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman is also calling for more lawyers, engineers, and accountants to join the agency's plantilla to aid in investigating these cases.
04:08Rod Laguzad from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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