Ombudsman charges two former DPWH officials and others in General Santos right-of-way fraud

The Office of the Ombudsman announced on October 25 that it has filed a series of malversation and graft informations against two former Department of Public Works and Highways officials, four department personnel and seven private parties linked to a road right-of-way scandal in General Santos City. The accused include former Region 12 regional director Subair Saro Diron, former assistant regional director Laureano B. Suan Jr., and DPWH staff Tomas Marquez Rodriguez, David Lucena Padlan, Paisal Amerol Padate and Ansare Mariga Busran, together with civilians Wilma Mamburam, Nelson Ti, Evelyn Paloso, Rudy Hadji Ong, Marisa Seguirre, William Uy and Paul Michael Bagio.

Prosecutors filed 18 informations for malversation of public funds through falsified documents under Article 217 and another 18 for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, to be heard by the Sandiganbayan. The allegations arise from NBI reports submitted in 2018 and 2019 that claim claimants received P491,931,120.20 for land taken for the Digos-Makar National Road, based on falsified paperwork and an outdated appraisal value. The Ombudsman also issued an administrative decision dismissing former legal officer Ansare Mariga Busran from government service.