Aguirre tags 2 Aquino execs in P8.7-B fake land titles scam

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday implicated two officials of the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III in an P8.7-billion scam involving fake road right-of-way claims in General Santos City.

Aguirre tagged former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, along with other officials from various government offices, as having enabled the work of a “criminal syndicate” that claimed compensation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) using fake land titles bearing the names of “non-existent persons.”

The modus operandi of the syndicate, he said, was to “claim for just compensation of road right of way (RROW) which are intended for rightful owners who were affected by national highway construction at General Santos City.”

“The members of the syndicate would submit fake titles in the name of non-existent persons or not real landowners. The syndicate would then secure payment using fake land titles,” Aguirre said.

One such claim could amount to as much as P29 million, he said. From 2009 to the latter part of the Aquino administration, the group has allegedly processed more than 300 folders of fake claims “amounting to more or less P8.7 billion.”

Under this setup, Singson allegedly knowingly “approved and requested the release of payment of fake RROW claims,” while Abad allegedly “approved” Singson’s requests.

‘Baseless, not true’

Asked by GMA News Online, Singson refused to comment on Aguirre's accusations, saying: "I will have to see what it is about." 

Abad called accusation “baseless” and “not true.”

“I and the DBM were never part of the negotiations for that transaction. The DPWH will be in the best position to shed light on the issue. If I'm not mistaken, that case is already pending with the Ombudsman,” Abad said.

The Right-of-Way Act mandates the government to provide just compensation for landowners whose properties were or will be used or affected by national infrastructure projects, such as the building of roads. 

The Justice Secretary did not reveal the witness' identity yet but said the person was involved in the alleged syndicate. The witness, who supposedly has all the supporting documents for his claims, was already placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) due to “fear for his life” after making the allegations.

He said the witness alleged that both former officials earned from these acts.

“He was on the run when he saw me, siguro mga four months, three months ago,” Aguirre said.

He also called for persons who has personal knowledge of the scam to come forward and share the information they have, assuring them of confidentiality and protection under the WPP.

Aguirre told reporters he has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to “continue its case build-up in order to further strengthen the case which most likely will include several high-ranking officials of the Aquino administration.”

Other persons named by the said witness were a certain Wilma Mamburam, a Colonel Chino Mamburam, Merceditas Dumlao, and Nelson Ti. The witness also purportedly said Ti, the “syndicate’s” financier, was a “close relative of Domingo Lee, and is supposedly close” to Aquino.

The witness said the group also conspired with several public officials to carry out the criminal acts, including those from the DPWH, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the City Assessor’s Office of General Santos, the Registry of Deeds, the Commission on Audit and some Regional Trial Courts.

These offices, according to Aguirre’s witness, allegedly “participated in the processing, approval and eventual release of these dubious claims.”

Asked if these people’s involvement in the alleged scam amounts to collusion, Aguirre said:

“That’s the implication. You could not do this, you could not collect such a huge sum of money without everybody in conspiracy kaya talagang collusion among these perpetrators is very clear.”

He also said the witness’ statement only covered fraudulent acts in General Santos City, but that it is also “possible” that it occurs in other parts of the country.

Pressed further, Aguirre said he would reveal the witness' identity next week.

“I am going to present him to you, para i-direct na lang ang questions sa kaniya. But by next week, I am going to authorize the release of the affidavit,” he said.

Aguirre's announcement came on the heels of another set of orders he issued directed at Aquino and his allies.

He signed on Thursday three orders which all directed the NBI to create a special task force that would investigate Aquino and his officials for malversation and likewise look into the “anomalies” surrounding the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program and the Priority Development Assistance Fund. — with Ted Cordero and Virgil Lopez/MDM/RSJ, GMA News