DENR exec cleared of graft charges

By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Ilocos regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who was accused by three personnel of graft and corruption, was cleared of wrongdoing by the six-man internal audit team from the DENR central office.

Constancio Arciaga, the DENR-Ilocos chief was recently the subject of a series of e-mail complaints sent to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged biggest anomaly in DENR Region 1 – the alleged anomalous construction of a P23-million DENR building here.

“Based on contracts, documents and information gathered, Arciaga had no direct participation or involvement in the construction of the project. The team concurs with the findings of the Commission on Audit that the contract cost is considered reasonable,” said the internal audit report.

The audit team report was submitted to lawyer Mary Ann Lucille Sering, DENR Undersecretary for administration, finance and legal.

The online complaint against Arciaga was received by Director Wilbert Candelaria of the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon sent by a certain Barbara Peñaflor bleived to be a pseudonym.

On Aug. 5, the real identity of the complainant was uncovered when the Ombudsman summoned three DENR personnel, Lourdes Calacal, Teofilo Naoe Jr. and Florence Alicias, to submit their sworn complaint-affidavits.

The three accused Arciaga of alleged violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which includes abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and gross dishonesty for allegedly pocketing millions of kickbacks from the anomalous construction.

“The allegations of a certain Barbara Peñaflor through e-mails as verified are unfounded, baseless and product of malicious intent to destroy the integrity and credibility of the DENR official,” the report stated.

Arciaga told local newsmen his conscience is clear and that the personnel accusing him merely want to discredit him in his new position which he assumed recently.

He said that he already consulted a lawyer for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the three personnel who want to destroy his reputation.