PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar assured fair investigation and sanctions will be dealt against relieved Ifugao District Engineer Lorna Ricardo who was caught on camera allegedly asking for bribe from a contractor for a road project.
Villar reiterated the administration’s zero tolerance on corruption in government which would be meted with the appropriate sanctions.
“Engineer Lorna Ricardo have been relieved . That’s my worry because we do not have any tolerance of any kind of corruption in this administration and this case will be dealt with harshly,” Villar said.
In an earlier news conference, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica presented the video showing Engineer Lorna Ricardo allegedly asking P10 million from a contractor to ensure that the latter would be awarded the P100-million Lagawe-Caba-Ponghal Road Development Project in Ifugao province.
Belgica said aside from the P10 million, Ricardo also asked for one percent of the 10 percent mobilization fund to be released on June 25 to 29, 2018 as an "SOP" (standard operating procedure) for DPWH - Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Ifugao District and five percent "SOP" on every progress billing.
Ricardo also demanded for P20,000 payment as processing fee for the issuance of Statement of Work Accomplished (SWA); one percent from the P100 million, the total contract cost for material testing, and another million pesos for the supposed vehicle rental to be used by DPWH project engineers.
“All legal means that we have will be used in this case and any sanctions that we can apply will be applied in this case,” Villar added.
PACC reported the talks between Ricardo and the contractor took place from January to July this year but did not identify the contractor.
Ricardo allegedly violated Section 7 of the Republic Act No. 6713 (Prohibited Acts and Transactions) and Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019 (Corrupt Practices of Public Offices).
Villar was the guest of honor and speaker in the 14th National Annual Conference of the District Engineers League of the Philippines which was held in Baguio City.