Manila gov’t files graft complaint vs former mayor over dredging project

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila City government has filed graft complaints against former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza and two others, catching Atienza’s camp by surprise.

The complaint, filed by Assistant City Administrator Amando Tetangco, alleged that the DENR and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission entered into anomalous transactions in the dredging of the Pasig River, which was started in 2008 and finished on September 2010.

Also included in the complaint were Architect Deogracias J. Tablan Jr. and engineer Alan Gatpolintan, executive director and assistant executive director of the PRRC respectively during the dredging.

Tetangco, in his complaint, asked the Ombudsman to “conduct a thorough investigation of the Pasig dredging project; require the respondents to submit proof of their actual accomplishments and expenditures relative to the project; and…charge them with the offenses stated in this complaint...for having entered into a project without public bidding, for being grossly advantageous to the government, for violating environmental laws and the Local Government Code and for being overpriced.”

Tetangco asked that Atienza, Tablan and Gatpolintan be charged with violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The dredging project was awarded to Belgian contractor Baggerwerken Decloedt (BDC) in a contract agreement signed on Oct. 15, 2008. It involved the removal of 2.93 million cubic meters of debris or sediment in the river spanning three kilometers from Del Pan Bridge toward Manila Bay, the reason why Manila was taking the lead in the complaint, Tetangco said in an interview.

Tetangco found it curious that while “the prevailing contract price for dredging is pegged at P200 per cubic meter of silt...the dredging for approximately 2.83 million cubic meters was exorbitantly priced at P4.5 billion. This means that the contract price for each cubic meter of dredged material was roughly P3,000.”

Tetangco said he filed the complaint on March 28, but it was only publicized by media this week.

Sought for comment, Atienza’s camp said they had not received a copy of the complaint, but said it was obviously politically motivated.

“The only reason I see why this issue would arise now is because [Mayor Alfredo Lim] is also facing plunder complaints for the Century Park Hotel issue, and that will be resolved soon,” Eric Cham, information officer for Atienza, said over phone.

Tetangco denied acting for Lim, saying the dredging project should be treated with transparency, and the complaint's delay was because they were able to complete documentary evidence only recently.

Atienza is Lim’s known rival for Manila city’s mayoralty. A recount of the Manila mayoral 2010 election results is ongoing, prompted by a poll protest filed by Atienza, who alleged fraud in the automated polls. (report from Jaymee T. Gamil/Philippine Daily Inquirer)