Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday announced that he approved subpoenas for five contractors and three Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) executives to compel their attendance at a Senate hearing on flood control projects.
“Let the axe fall on all the personalities found guilty of scheming, conniving and carrying out fraudulent acts in the guise of legitimate taxpayer-funded flood control projects,” he said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, is leading the inquiry into alleged irregularities in projects linked to severe flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Escudero signed the subpoenas for the resource persons to give testimony on Marcoleta’s recommendation. This is to ensure the individuals in question appear before the panel on Sept. 8.
The contractors ordered to attend include Darcy Kimel D.J. Respicio, general manager of Darcy & Anna Builders and Trading, and Sally N. Santos, owner of SYMS Construction Trading.
Others summoned are Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya II, managing officer of Alpha and Omega General Contractor & Development Corporation, and Maritoni Melegrito, managing officer of Elite General Contractor and Development Corporation.
Edgardo Saggum, owner of Eddmari Construction and Trading, was also named in the order.
The DPWH officials covered by the subpoenas are Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, chief of the construction division at the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez, former assistant district engineer in the same office, and Engr. Juanito Mendoza, accountant III at the district office.
In addition, Escudero signed a subpoena to produce documents addressed to Commission on Audit Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba.
The order seeks submission of audit highlights and the responses of individuals flagged in the agency’s review of DPWH flood control projects.
The Senate opened its investigation earlier this week, focusing on projects alleged to be substandard or nonexistent.
“No stone should be left unturned in the inquiry into these highly questionable flood control projects that cost taxpayers in billions of pesos and caused nightmares and sufferings for many Filipinos,” Escudero said.
