Gordon committee continues probe on R8.7-B right-of-way payment scam

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, slammed yesterday officials of different government agencies who knowingly or unknowingly abetted criminal syndicates in tarnishing the integrity of the country’s Torrens title.

The scolding came during the Gordon committee’s investigation into the R8.7-billion road-rightof-way (RROW) payment scam, principally in Mindanao as the modus operandi employed by groups behind the scam unfolded.

Gordon has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to amend the charges filed to include officials of government agencies involved in the payment of RROW compensation who were not in the original charge sheet.

He also asked for a list of those already in the charge complaints and the specific charges filed.

Gordon noted that some officials have not exerted sufficient due diligence which would have prevented the government from being defrauded.

He also pointed out that the whole system has collapsed because some officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Registration Authority (LRA) , Register of Deeds, and other agencies, allegedly put their selfish gain above integrity and love for country by giving in to the syndicates’ machinations in exchange for money.

“The road to progress will be difficult if these government officials put selfish gain above integrity and love for country. The cost of governance becomes very expensive. And we cannot rely on titles that are supposed to be protected by the LRA, protected by the Register of Deeds, protected by DPWH. The whole system collapsed. Why? It collapsed because of money. Because lahat naglalagay (everybody is into giving bribes),” he said.

“Government must do more than what there is,’’ Gordon said, adding that government officials did not investigate suspicious transactions that eventually grew out of hand.

This, despite the doubts on the authenticity of the Torrens titles being submitted to the DPWH then headed by Secretary Rogelio Singson, he said.

Earlier, Gordon recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice and the NBI should conduct a lifestyle check on officials of government agencies involved in RROW payment.

The Blue Ribbon committee has been investigating the RROW payment scam in General Santos City.

The modus operandi of the syndicate was to claim for just compensation of RROW that are intended for rightful owners who were affected by national highway construction projects in General Santos City.

The syndicates had presented fake titles that were certified genuine by the LRA.