Nearly
two years since the filing of corruption charges against those who were allegedly
behind the P165-million Talibon ghost dam project, the anti-graft buster who exposed
the scam appear uneasy over the delay of the outcome of the case.
This
development surfaced after the office of the Ombudsman (Visayas) has asked complainants
and respondents to submit anew documents pertaining to the much publicized irrigation
scam.
"We have been tempted to go by public perception - especially
in the province of Bohol - that certain interested 'powers' may have been dipping
their hands into these cases, working for a possible whitewash to escape from
their possible involvement herein by complicity," said Engineer Petronilo
Sarigumba in a new position paper filed before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas
through lawyer Artemio Cabatos.
"The delay may have given the undue
opportunity for herein respondents to do 'magic' with relative documents material
to the prosecution (of the case)," Sarigumba said.
He warned that
a whitewash to the case and acquittal of those responsible for the alleged corruption
"would be a blow to our supposed government, legal and justice system, which
may visit our ailing society in catastrophic proportion."
Sarigumba
and Cabatos have sought twice the preventive suspension to Engineer Calixto Seroje,
former provincial National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head who implemented
the project, funding of which was worked out by then Rep. Erico Aumentado, and
Sarigumba said there has been "no action taken thereon."
"Unlike
in the case filed against (Panglao) Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan - the (Ombudsman)
issued without delay an order of preventive suspension even before his (Dumaluan)
counter-affidavit with countervailing evidence reached that office," said
Sarigumba of the Boholanos
Against Corruption, Oppression and Social Harassment
(Bacosh).
He said the Boholano community "is now gripped with fear, entertaining
the grim prospect of a whitewash in these cases…"
Sarigumba said
the prospect of whitewash is clear, "considering that top-ranking Bohol officials
popularly known to have very strong links with Malacanang appear biased in their
stand of the respondents, especially Calixto M. Seroje."
The "meat
and bone" of the complaint, Sarigumba said, is that a fact-finding team from
NIA Manila had found irregularities in the implementation of the project, which
until now is yet to see completion even after spending P165 million.
"The
said fact-finding team (on Nov. 9, 2004) had recommended the filing of formal
charges against those who may be involved (in the alleged anomaly)," Sarigumba
said.
Another prima facie evidence was found by the Office of the Ombudsman
Visayas in a joint final evaluation report dated March 28, 2005 and was penned
by graft investigator Leny Lim, he pointed out.
He said that NIA appeared
to be undertaking an attempt at cover-up of the case.
"Somehow to
project a 'finished' image of the anomaly-ridden project, NIA approved an outlay
of P19.68 million from NIA's corporate funds," Sarigumba said.
"This
is (a) blatant admission that after allegedly accomplishing the Talibon dam project
at the cost of P165 million, the respondents procured funding for 'preparatory'
aspects of the project, including the dam embankment, which appears on record
to have already eaten up some P18 million," the anti-graft crusader said.
He
said that considering all the facts presented, "there is now no escaping
that appropriate criminal and administrative charges should be filed against the
respondents and, as evidence may warrant, other persons who may be found responsible
for this scandalous rape of public funds."
Sarigumba, former NIA Manila
executive, said that they were not losing hope at all.
"We still cling
to the consuming belief that after the gloomy night in the case, the dawn of a
new day - for the rule of true law and the triumph of justice - would finally
descend upon us, and the nation," Sarigumba said.
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