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[av_heading heading=’Ex-DPWH sec Singson charged over ‘road scam’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018
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MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation filed on Wednesday plunder charges against former Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson in connection with the so-called “right of way scam” in General Santos City.
Aside from Singson, 33 other government officials were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman with violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, grave misconduct, and dishonesty.
“This Bureau respectfully recommends that the erring government officials and their cohorts be charged [with] plunder, with a recommendation of forfeiture proceeding,” NBI director Dante A. Gierran wrote Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
The charges came after Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the NBI to investigate the supposed scam based on information from a certain Roberto Catapang.
A “syndicate” was allegedly claiming road right of way compensation intended for landowners affected by the construction of a highway in General Santos City.
In a previous Senate inquiry, Singson denied his involvement in the alleged illicit activity and defrauding the government P8.7 billion during the Benigno Aquino III administration.
Most of the allegations against him happened in 2007 and 2009, when he was not yet Public Works secretary, Singson said.
But Singson admitted to authorizing the payment of P2 billion for claims despite misgivings./PN
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