Ombudsman to file graft charges vs 3 DENR officials

(Updated 2:33 p.m.) - Ombudsman Conchita Morales has ordered the filing of graft charges against three officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 

In a review resolution, the Ombudsman ordered the indictment of DENR Regional Director Regidor De Leon, Regional Technical Director for Lands Leonardo Aggabao, Jr. and Engineer III Fernando Clerido for disapproving the survey plans of some lot owners to give way to the foreshore lease application of another company in 2007, according to a statement from the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

According to the same statement, Jaime Lazaro, Salvador Osita and Monico Waje, owners of several lots covered by survey plans located in Barangay Bolitoc, Sta. Cruz, Zambales, filed the complaint against the DENR executives.

 

The complainants claimed that the respondents cancelled their approved survey plans without undergoing due process to give way to the application of DMCI Holdings, Inc. (DMCI). As of posting time, DENR declined to comment on the issue as they have not yet received a copy of the court order, lawyer Daniel Darius Nicer, assistant secretary of DENR's Administrative Reforms and Anti Corruption Measures, told GMA News Online.

 

In the Resolution, the Ombudsman said “that conspiracy among respondents De Leon, Aggabao, Jr. and Clerigo indicating unity of the purpose in accomplishing a criminal design to favor DMCI’s foreshore lease application is gathered from their [acts.]”

 

Ombudsman Morales said that “respondents’ manifest partiality and bad faith became very obvious when they arbitrarily cancelled private complainants’ approved survey plans before the scheduled ground verification survey using as bases the January 11, 2008 Memorandum/ Investigation Report of respondents Special Investigator Rowena Magat and Land Management Inspector Joel Dedicatoria and Forest Ranger Dionito Pascual and January 8, 2008 Order of respondent De Leon.”

 

“While there is possibility that there might be legal grounds to cancel the same, still, it offers no excuse for the respondents to make legal short cuts and ignore the cardinal requirements of due process," the resolution stated. — Amanda Fernandez/RSJ/KG, GMA News