(The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) now has a clearer picture of the scheme involving the falsification of special allotment release orders (SAROs) or documents issued by the budget department for the actual release of funds.
In a press conference yesterday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said NBI probers have verified that the SAROs for two projects in Cagayan and Aklan provinces were falsified and that several personnel of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) were involved in the process.
De Lima said NBI agents had found out that the group kept specimen signatures of approving authorities, which they had superimposed on unsigned, photocopied SAROs.
“They would photocopy advanced copies of the unsigned SAROs and then they superimpose signatures on them before photocopying the documents again. After the SAROs were reproduced several times, the fake signatures would seem to appear authentic already,” she said, explaining the modus operandi of the scam.
Of the 12 SAROs being probed by the NBI, she said the two from Regions I and VI involving projects worth P161 million and P77 million, respectively, were indeed fake.
The other questionable SAROs involved projects in Calabarzon (Region 4A) and Soccsksargen (Region 12).
“The reason why they send advance copies of the SARO is to heads up the contractors so they could already arrange deals, including the commissions,” she said.
De Lima said those involved in the scheme were DBM personnel led by a certain “Supremo” and staff of several congressmen. They have been identified by the NBI, but she refused to reveal the names pending further validation.
She only hinted that among them were the secretary, driver and janitor of DBM Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.
“That Supremo – who turns out to be a woman – was identified by some insiders,” De Lima said.
The justice chief also revealed that the NBI probe had initially pointed to a consultant of Aklan Rep. Teodoro Haresco as source of the two fake SAROs. Before being elected congressional representative, Haresco was a party-list representative.
“The NBI is now looking at which office these fake signatures were kept: Was it in the DBM or an office outside it?” she added.
De Lima said the probers are also determining if higher officials are involved in the scheme.
“So far, there is no indication that the congressmen are aware of this. The NBI only established so far the involvement of congressional staff,” she said.
She has given the NBI until the end of next month to complete the probe and submit a report.
Except for differences in font styles, the fake SAROs contained the same SARO numbers, codes, amount of money, dates and name of signatories as the authentic ones.
The fake SAROs were discovered only last November at the height of the pork barrel fund mess involving businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who allegedly used nonexistent foundations to divert Priority Development Assistance Fund and Malampaya funds with the help of several lawmakers and implementing government agencies.
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