Tarlac solon, DPWH engineer sued for plunder over P597-M infra projects

A civil society group identified as United Pilipino Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC) has filed complaints for plunder, graft, violation of Procurement law, as well as administrative complaints against Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera and two others over the P597 million worth of infrastructure projects secured by the construction firm linked to the lawmaker.

Included in the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman were Rivera's wife, Concepcion, Tarlac Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera and Neil Farala, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer.

The UPACC, led by Pyra Nucum Lucas, said winning such contracts violates Section 14, Article 7 of the Constitution, which states that “No senator or member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies.”

The same provision states that “neither shall he, directly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office."

“Alam naman ng nakararami na ang mga congressman ay may malaking impluwensya sa paggawa ng budget ng DPWH at pag appoint din ng district engineer. Kaya ang pagpasok at pagpirma sa kontrata ni Cong. Rivera ay ipinagbabawal ng Constitution,” the complaint read.

(Everyone knows that the lawmakers have a big influence on the construction of government projects under the DPWH and on appointing district engineers. The involvement of Congressman Rivera and his signing of these contracts is not allowed under the Constitution.)

“Kung kaya, malinaw ang mga paglabag at tahasang pang-aabuso sa batas ni Noel Rivera dahil ang kanyang kumpanya ang direktang nakakakuha ng mga proyekto mula sa gobyerno sa ilalim ng kanyang termino bilang public official. Ang mas masama pa rito, bukod sa isa na siyang incorporator ng kumpanyang Tarlac 3G, siya mismo ang nakapangalan o nakapirma bilang kumakatawan sa kumpanyang Tarlac 3G, gaya ng makikita sa mga kontratang nakalakip,” the complaint added.

(It is clear that Rivera violated the laws and abused his authority because it was his company that won these government contracts while he was a public official. Worse, he is not only an incorporator of Tarlac 3G, but he is the signatory and the representative of this company, as shown in the contracts.)

The government infrastructure projects won by Tarlac 3G as stated in the complaint, include the repair of a flood control projects, roads, multi-purpose buildings, classrooms, farm to market roads, bridges and repair and rehabilitation of a water line system

GMA Integrated News is trying to get the side of the people involved in the complaint. —LDF, GMA Integrated News