DPWH exec faces graft raps at Ombudsman for allegedly ‘throwing cash in air’ at party

An incumbent councilor in Lopez, Quezon on Thursday filed a complaint against a regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways for graft and corruption and partisanship.

The complaint was filed by Councilor Arkie Manuel Yulde before the Office of the Ombudsman against DPWH Region I Director Ronnel Tan, husband of Quezon Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan.

Yulde is accusing Tan of grave misconduct, corrupt practices, conduct unbecoming a public officer and involvement in partisan political activities.

Yulde, in his complaint, mentioned a recent incident where Tan threw a party at his residence in Quezon and “threw cash in the air” for his guests.

“The respondent indulged in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth. During a recent party celebrated by respondent and his wife in their residence in the 4th district of Quezon Province, two mayors… had witnessed the respondent brought with him a box filled with cash estimated to be about P2 to 3 million. Due to his excitement, respondent shouted to the guest, 'pag-agawan ninyo itong pera,' then 'threw the cash in the air' such that the guest will be fighting over picking up as many cash they can get. The mayors said some guests got P100,000, other got P200,000,” the complaint reads.

“Such ostentatious display of wealth by respondent is surely a grave misconduct committed by a public official,” the complaint also reads.

Yulde was present during the filing of the complaint but was absent during the press conference held afterwards “for security reasons,” his lawyer Freddy Villamor told reporters

The complaint also mentioned that Tan had a “huge house” at a posh subdivision in Quezon City where a square meter of land costs P75,000.

The house reportedly stands on a 600-square-meter property.

Yulde also alleged that Tan had prevented and even threatened several barangay officials from attending meetings or conferences organized by Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez.

“He is supposedly a government official and he cannot engage in partisan political activity,” Villamor said.

When asked if the complainant was allied with Suarez, Villamor said he did not know.

Villamor added that they are still gathering additional evidence.

“We’re also looking at the possibility of supplementing the complaint later on,” he said.

Tan responds

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Tan denied Yulde's allegations, saying that  the councilor's claims are politically motivated against Tan's wife.

"Walang ganoon," he said about the allegation he threw cash in the air. "Pag nagbi-birthday ako, naroon lang kami sa bahay namin sa [Metro] Manila. Wala pong ganoon. Napakalaki nun at hindi tama iyon. This is just because of local politics."

“Kung ang sinasabi ay birthday ko, tapos ang birthday ko kasi ay February. Maaaring kung ang sinasabi niya ay Pasko, nagbigay ng regalo 'yung asawa ko dahil congresswoman 'yung asawa ko, maaaring ganun. Pero parang ang dami naman noon. Parang napakaimposibleng ang paagaw mo ay ganun, na ipaagaw mo 'yung ganun kalaking pera,” Tan said in a separate interview with GMA News.

He also clarified that the gifts from his wife were not in cash but in kind.

Tan also said that his assets—including his house in Quezon City—are legitimately acquired, since he worked as a subcontractor for a telecommunications company before entering government service, specifically in the DPWH.

“Mayroon naman akong naging ibang hanapbuhay, ibang source of income, pero hindi kami namumuhay ng marangya,” Tan said.

He also added that all his properties are declared on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Tan also found it laughable that the complainant is accusing him of holding power over barangay captains when he is hardly in Quezon since he is assigned to DPWH Region 1.

“Bakit nila ako susundin eh governor siya? Ano pong kapasidad ko eh sa Region 1 ako naka-assign? Bakit naman ako susundin ng mga kapitan?” Tan said.

Tan, however, said the allegation is not surprising since his wife is a likely candidate for Quezon governor in the 2022 polls.

“Ina-anticipate na namin ito kasi dahil ako ang nasa gobyerno at iyong asawa ko eh nababalitang tatakbong gobernador sa Quezon,” Tan said.

“Nakarating na sa amin na sisirain nila kami kung hindi aatras ang asawa ko,” Tan added. — MDM/BM/AOL, GMA News