BAGUIO CITY – Anti-corruption advocates in the region vehemently denounced the alleged manipulation done by some ranking officials of the Cordillera office of the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH-CAR) that resulted to the dislocation and displacement of dedicated and hardworking Igorot engineers to suit their whims and caprices in pursuing their reported questionable transactions and corrupt activities.
In his letter to Public works Secretary Mark Villar, Salvador Like, secretary of the Citizens Crime Watch – Cordillera Administrative Region (CCW-CAR), pointed out he had been allegedly deceived and conned by the alleged syndicated clique who reportedly manipulated for the sudden dislocation of the Igorot engineers who had been assigned to ranking positions and had been effectively and efficiently performing their duties and responsibilities.
Secretary Villar signed Special Nos. 116 to 120 that resulted to a revamp of the leadership of some key officers in the regional and district offices of the agency as of September 22, 2017.
Under Special Order No. 116, a certain Engr. Khadaffy D. Tanggol was designated as officer-in-charge, office of the assistant regional director of the DPWH-CAR while based on Special Order No. 117, incumbent DPWH-CAR assistan regional director Alberto N. Gahid was demoted to district engineer of the first Apayao Engineering District.
Special Order No. 118 designated a certain Engr. Lorna Ricardo as district engineer of the First Ifugao Engineering district, Special Order No. 119 designated Engr. Rustom A. Martinez as officer-in-charge, office of the district engineer, Second Mountain Province Engineering district and Special Order No. 120 designated a certain Ronalyn P. Ubiña as officer-in-charge office of the assistant district engineer of the Second Apayao Engineering District.
Liked claimed that the alleged syndicated clique in the agency did not only want to con or deceive the Secretary but they also wanted to taint the overall image of the agency in the region.
According to him, the special orders were issued in violation of the Omnibus election code that provides that there shall be no transfer of government officials and employees 45 days before and after a regular election considering that there is no law yet that postpones the October 23, 2017 barangay ad Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Further, he alleged that there was no exemption issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to the DPWH for the issuance of the special orders, thus, it is considered to be violative of existing laws, rules and regulations.
He requested Secretary Villar to immediately order an immediate audit of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH-CAR for him to allegedly discover reported completed projects but actually not completed among others which is in direct contrast to the accomplishments of the district offices.
Further, the special orders is also in violation of the pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 220 issued on July 15, 1987 that created the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Administrative Order No. 136, series of 1987 which provide that qualified Cordillerans should be given preference in the appointment of available positions in the regional line agencies in the region.
By HENT
