BY JP LOPEZ
SEN. Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday
called for the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and
the dismissal of Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves for "gross negligence" on the
"road contract cartel."
Santiago, chair of the committee on economic
affairs investigating the alleged cartel, said that as early as
November 2007, the World Bank had informed the DPWH, DOF and
Office of the Ombudsman that it was looking into possible
collusion of three local construction firms on the bidding for
the first phase of the National Road Improvement and Management
Program, but the three officials failed to act on it with
dispatch.
"Sa report ng aking committee ay imumungkahi
ko na irekomenda kay President Arroyo na tanggalin si Teves, i-impeach
ang Ombudsman at tanggalin ang public works secretary para
madisiplina sila," Santiago said after the hearing.
"If you make heads roll, that will certainly
serve as a deterrent… it sends a very clear message that (the)
President will not countenance corruption in her
administration," Santiago said.
Ebdane was present during the hearing but
Teves and Gutierrez did not show up.
Santiago said Teves, in a letter, said he had
a prior commitment. She said the reason given was
"unacceptable."
"He didn’t even bother to send an
undersecretary with a proper document when he already knows that
it is about the blacklisting of three Filipino companies,"
Santiago said.
Gutierrez, in a letter, said a preliminary
investigation on the issue is ongoing and there is an Ombudsman
rule banning disclosure of the personalities or the events that
are under investigation.
"Is she claiming that the Ombudsman is higher
than the Philippine Senate? Is that her claim?" Santiago asked.
Santiago argued the preliminary investigation
by the Ombudsman is already past the prescribed period required
by the Department of Justice.
"The Justice department requires prosecutors
to finish the preliminary investigation in three months time.
The report was given to the Ombudsman in November 2007. Until
now she is still investigating?" Santiago said.
The World Bank last week disqualified and
blacklisted Cavite Ideal International Construction and
Development Corp. and CM Pancho Construction Inc. (both for four
years), and E.C. de Luna Construction Corp. (barred permanently)
and four other Chinese construction firms from engaging in
projects being funded by the agency for acting as a cartel to
rig the biddings on the road project.
The WB also suspended the release of some $33
million for road projects in the Philippines.
During the hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson
dragged First Gentleman into the controversy, saying Juan Miguel
Arroyo met with Eduardo de Luna, owner of the EC de Luna
Construction, at least 20 times in 2002 alone.
Lacson cited information from an appointments
book of Arroyo in 2002 which allegedly reflected the meetings
that took place from March 1, 2002 to December.
Lacson said it was De Luna who delivered the
P70 million "advance payment" to the "powerful person" holding
office at LTA Bldg. on Perea street, Makati City last 2003.
Among other tenants, Mike Arroyo holds office
in that building which is family-owned. The building is named
after his mother, Lourdes Tuason Arroyo.
De Luna said he was not close to the First
Gentleman but had met him several times.
He also denied dealing with the First
Gentleman but admitted that he met with him in his office in
Makati at least once.
De Luna dared Lacson to produce evidence.
Lacson said he is talking to witnesses to
come out in the open, "but they are very much afraid to come out
for obvious reasons."
Ebdane said the construction firms could
still participate in biddings on government projects that are
not funded by the World Bank, citing DPWH rules on blacklisting
of companies.
Santiago said: "That is an outlandish
provision. It does not make any sense."
Santiago asked Ebdane to change the
guidelines and furnish the Senate copies within 30 days.