2 ex-DPWH officials convicted over ROW payments

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has convicted two former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) based in Soccsksargen, in connection with spurious payments for the right-of-way of government projects in South Cotabato.

In a 77-page ruling, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division found former DPWH regional director Tomas Rodriguez guilty of two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and nine counts of falsification of public documents.

Aside from Rodriguez, the anti-graft court also found David Padlan, chief of DPWH-Soccsksargen planning and design division, liable for two counts of graft and four counts of falsification.

The court sentenced Rodriguez and Padlan to up to 10 years in prison for each count of graft, and eight years for each count of falsification.

The defendants were disqualified from holding public office and were ordered to pay a fine of P5,000 for each count of falsification.

Three other defendants remain at large while another, identified as Paisal Padate, was acquitted.

Court records showed that from 2007 to 2015, the defendants allegedly conspired to make it appear that ROW claims by owners of private property had been settled.

The court said the defendants’ actions caused undue injury to the government.