MANILA, Oct. 22 — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) emphasized that it does not demand its contractors, consultants and suppliers to provide monetary or material donations for a relief project in Maguindanao.
Secretary Rogelio L. Singson has received information that certain unscrupulous individuals posing as Undersecretary Alfredo G. Tolentino is calling and pressuring corporate heads of construction firms to contribute to the alleged joint relief operation of DPWH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Based on report, a certain individual claiming to be Undersecretary Tolentino and using mobile number 0977-6033387 with his alleged cohort Engineer Cruz using the number 0999-8269346 are contacting construction company Presidents to solicit sack of rice or cash amount of one thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00) thru money deposit under the name of Jose Tecson at LBC Villamor Airbase, Pasay City.
Undersecretary Tolentino, in-charge of DPWH Special Projects, has denied involvement in such kind of extortion activities.
Singson said that DPWH and DSWD have convergence program as far as providing employment opportunities among beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program for the unskilled labor needs such as road maintenance, declogging of drainage laterals, and street sweeping but not relief program.
DPWH Regional and District heads are also targets of illegal solicitation with a certain Fr. Roger E. Montesa using mobile number 09424720227 introducing himself as DPWH Bureau of Maintenance Director Jun Gregorio and his female companion posing herself as Undersecretary Ardeliza R. Medenilla demanding support donations to be deposited at BDO Account Number 002200325297.
Undersecretary Medenilla and Director Gregorio has warned DPWH Regional Directors and District Engineers against this kind of activity as they don’t know nor authorized Fr. Montesa or anybody to transact business with any of the DPWH field offices in the Regions and Districts. (DPWH)
