Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) — The Justice Department issued Wednesday an immigration lookout order for former Budget Chief Florencio Abad and former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson over an alleged P8.7-billion right of way scam.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre signed the memorandum addressed to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morrente on November 24, and released it to the media Monday.
Among the 41 others on the lookout bulletin were Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chito Mamburam, Merceditas Dumlao, and Nelson Ti.
The four were accused of leading the syndicate in the scam, with Ti as their financier. Ti was said to be a relative of Domingo Lee, who was named ambassador to China by Aquino but was never confirmed.
“They have been allegedly operating particularly in General Santos City wherein the group would collect ‘just compensation’ for the road right-of-way using fake land titles under fake claimants,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre added the four were “in connivance with other government officials.”
In a press conference Monday, Aguirre also presented Roberto Catapang Jr., a state witness who was supposed to have supporting documents on the scam.
The Justice Secretary has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the multi-billion peso anomaly.
The 43 persons involved were named in Catapang’s affidavit.
