Monday, March 26, 2007 Nalzaro: Where is the big fish? By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
SO THE Office of the Visayas Ombudsman has upgraded its fact-finding inquiry on the alleged massive overpricing of decorative lampposts and streetlights installed on the ceremonial routes of the 12th Asean Summit into formal criminal and administrative investigations. A total of 19 elective and appointive officials, including Mandaue Mayor Teddy Ouano and Lapu-Lapu Mayor Arturo Radaza, have been recommended for investigation.
But as I have predicted in my previous column, these personalities are only the small fry. I cannot believe that with the magnitude of the overpriced items and the huge budget for the procurement, nobody from the higher ups, especially from the lead implementing agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), was involved.
A bulk of the money intended for road repairs and rehabilitation, the procurements of the decorative lampposts and the security cameras came from DPWH funds. Sources said some officials at the DPWH central office even poked their fingers in small infrastructure projects. How much more a multi-million peso undertaking?
Businessman Crisologo Saavedra, a contractor and one of the complainants in the case, exposed the modus operandi of some top DPWH officials. He said they demand kickbacks from contractors and suppliers on government transactions. He won the bidding for the procurement of security cameras but because he did not give the DPWH officials their “cut,” the contract was awarded to another bidder.
Saavedra may have a personal interest in this case because he participated in the bidding. I can even say that maybe he is just sour-gripping. But we will take his word at face value because he knows the “ins and outs” of transacting with the DPWH.
Things may have gone differently had the officials at DPWH demanded a more manageable “cut.” But it was good that Saavedra helped expose their shenanigans.
Contractors and suppliers have their own clique. They speak the same language. And those who are frequently awarded government contracts are those who are generous with their “goodwill money.”
Bidding is just a formality and a compliance of the Commission on Audit rules and regulations. But it can be rigged.
The documents that are now in the possession of the ombudsman are signed contracts between suppliers and low-ranking DPWH officials. The anti-graft office has no paper trail that will lead it to the officials who received kickbacks and commissions.
I can only sympathize with the officials who are now under investigation because if and when the case prospers, they will be the ones who will face charges and get prosecuted.
The big fish, meanwhile, is still out there. I even suspect that there are people close to Malacańang who are involved in the anomaly.
