PGMA's Speech during the Visit to MWSS |
U.P. Balara Quezon City (07 Aug 2002) |
| SINCE LAST JANUARY, THE MEDIA
HAS BEEN FULL OF REPORTS ABOUT THE REPAIR SCAM -- THE ALLEGED REPAIR SCAM IN DPWH. SO, SECRETARY DATUMANONG CREATED A FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY HIS CHIEF-OF-STAFF ATTY. LORENZO SOLAIC -- WHERE IS ATTY. SOLAIC? -- AND THIS COMMITTEE PASSED THE INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE TO START THE INVESTIGATION, RETRIEVING DOCUMENTS. THEY WENT TO 7,000 TRANSACTIONS. THEY WENT THROUGH A SIX-MONTH PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION WHICH I THINK IS QUITE EXHAUSTIVE. SO, ON JUNE 23rd 2002 -- THAT WAS A MONTH-AND-A-HALF AGO, THE COMMITTEE SUBMITTED ITS REPORT. IT IDENTIFIED THE EMPLOYEES -- 41 IN ALL REACHING UP TO THE LEVEL OF BUREAU DIRECTOR -- WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN IRREGULAR REPAIRS. THESE ARE IN THREE BUREAUS -- THE BUREAU OF EQUIPMENT, THE BUREAU OF COMPTROLLER AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANPOWER MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE COST OF REPAIRS UNDER QUESTION AS OF THE CUT DATE IS A 139 MILLION PESOS? A 139 MILLION PESOS. SO I CHECKED WITH SECRETARY DATUMANONG ABOUT THIS, THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW READY FOR PROSECUTION. SO I HAVE ASKED THEM TO FILE THE CASE WITH THE OMBUDSMAN TODAY. I HAVE ALSO ASKED DEAN VALDEZ OUR GOVERNMENT CORPORATE COUNCIL -- WHO IS HELPING THE BIR AND ALSO THE CUSTOMS WITH THE CASES ON THE TAX EVASION AND SMUGGLING -- TO ALSO OVERSEE THE FILING OF THE CASE WITH THE OMBUDSMAN. AND I HAVE INSTRUCTED THEM THAT THESE THREE BUREAU DIRECTORS MUST BE AT THE HEAD, AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF THE RESPONDENTS, AND THAT THESE THREE BUREAU DIRECTORS MUST BE SUSPENDED -- PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION -- STARTING TODAY. SO THIS IS I HOPE A SIGNAL TO THE REST OF ... ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO THINK THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH WRONGDOING JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES -- BECAUSE BUREAU DIRECTORS ARE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES -- THAT THEY HAVE TO THINK TWICE AND THEY HAVE TO BEHAVE. THE DPWH IS MADE UP OF MANY GOOD MEN AND WOMEN AND WE DON'T WANT THE MAJORITY WHO ARE GOOD TO BE TARNISHED BY THE FEW WHO ARE BAD; AND THE HIGHER THEY GO, THE HARDER THEY MUST FALL. SO THAT'S THE INSTRUCTION I HAVE GIVEN AND I'M ASKING DEAN VALDEZ TO BE IN CHARGE OF THIS PROSECUTION. SO, IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO ASK A QUESTION I'LL LEAVE DEAN VALDEZ HERE TO TAKE CARE OF IT, AND ATTY. SOLAIC. OKAY. THANK YOU. |