MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco “Lalo” Matugas said that project records should establish who was responsible for the selection, implementation, certification and payment of the Mahayhay-Tuburan Road project which is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Matugas and his son, former congressman Francisco “Bingo” Matugas II, were charged for the alleged anomalous project. Both filed their counter affidavits.
The Ombudsman has raised questions over the project’s reported accomplishment and payments.
“The project records should show who selected the contractor, who signed the documents, who implemented and supervised the project, who certified the accomplishment and who processed the payments,” Matugas said.
Records identified Boometrix Development Corp. as the contractor, with Ronald Abejo and his wife, Princess Abejo, as principal shareholders. Abejo is a relative of the Matugas family.
Matugas said neither he nor his son was an incorporator, shareholder or officer of Boometrix and that neither signed the project contract.
“Being related to the owners of a company is one fact. Participation in a particular government project is another. The documents should establish the role of each individual,” he said.
The Matugases said they respect the Ombudsman’s process and are prepared to have the relevant records examined.
“Let the documents establish who did what,” Matugas said.
