Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANILA685
2009-03-27 23:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
More Philippine Public Works Officials Charged with
how-toVZCZCXRO2739 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHPB DE RUEHML #0685 0862321 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 272321Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3680 RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI//FPA//
UNCLAS MANILA 000685
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/EP/ EEB/IFD/OMA
STATE PASS EXIM, OPIC, AND USTR
STATE PASS USAID FOR AA/ANE, AA/EGAT, DAA/ANE
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON ECIN RP CN XE XD
SUBJECT: More Philippine Public Works Officials Charged with
Corruption
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLAS MANILA 000685
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/EP/ EEB/IFD/OMA
STATE PASS EXIM, OPIC, AND USTR
STATE PASS USAID FOR AA/ANE, AA/EGAT, DAA/ANE
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON ECIN RP CN XE XD
SUBJECT: More Philippine Public Works Officials Charged with
Corruption
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Embassy has confirmed media reports that officials of the
Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways are facing
charges of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The
Office of the Ombudsman (which investigates government corruption)
recommended on March 25 the filing of criminal charges against 17
current and former officials of the Department of Public Works and
Highways. The 17 include former Secretary Florante Soriquez and
current Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan as well as 3 Assistant
Secretaries. Most of those recommended for prosecution were members
of the Bids and Awards Committee.
2. (U) The Ombudsman and the National Bureau of Investigation
continue their joint probe of alleged collusion between private
contractors and government officials which resulted from a recently
released World Bank report on apparent bid rigging. The World Bank
debarred seven firms and one individual in January after an
investigation into collusion in Bank funded road construction
projects in the Philippines. Information from the Banks
investigation was provided to the Philippine government and was
apparently the basis for the charges announced by the Ombudsman.
3. (SBU) Comment: Corruption remains a serious problem in the
Philippines, and is a particularly challenging issue for donors
operating here. USAID has avoided any perception of corruption
through close project oversight and monitoring, coupled with an
active Inspector General system. In its infrastructure work, USAID
runs the bidding processes itself, ensuring that they will be clean.
It will be important as we move toward a Millennium Challenge
Corporation Compact to ensure that Filipinos, who expect their
Department of Public Works to be corrupt, realize that MCC projects
are scrupulously clean.
Kenney
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/EP/ EEB/IFD/OMA
STATE PASS EXIM, OPIC, AND USTR
STATE PASS USAID FOR AA/ANE, AA/EGAT, DAA/ANE
TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON ECIN RP CN XE XD
SUBJECT: More Philippine Public Works Officials Charged with
Corruption
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Embassy has confirmed media reports that officials of the
Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways are facing
charges of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The
Office of the Ombudsman (which investigates government corruption)
recommended on March 25 the filing of criminal charges against 17
current and former officials of the Department of Public Works and
Highways. The 17 include former Secretary Florante Soriquez and
current Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan as well as 3 Assistant
Secretaries. Most of those recommended for prosecution were members
of the Bids and Awards Committee.
2. (U) The Ombudsman and the National Bureau of Investigation
continue their joint probe of alleged collusion between private
contractors and government officials which resulted from a recently
released World Bank report on apparent bid rigging. The World Bank
debarred seven firms and one individual in January after an
investigation into collusion in Bank funded road construction
projects in the Philippines. Information from the Banks
investigation was provided to the Philippine government and was
apparently the basis for the charges announced by the Ombudsman.
3. (SBU) Comment: Corruption remains a serious problem in the
Philippines, and is a particularly challenging issue for donors
operating here. USAID has avoided any perception of corruption
through close project oversight and monitoring, coupled with an
active Inspector General system. In its infrastructure work, USAID
runs the bidding processes itself, ensuring that they will be clean.
It will be important as we move toward a Millennium Challenge
Corporation Compact to ensure that Filipinos, who expect their
Department of Public Works to be corrupt, realize that MCC projects
are scrupulously clean.
Kenney