A group of construction firms on Tuesday asked President Rodrigo Duterte to look into reports of alleged irregularities happening at the Department of Budget and Management.
The group led by VNB Construction revealed that two individuals were dropping the names and using the offices of DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado and Deputy Executive Secretary Rizalina Justol to demand “commission.”
The group claimed the two individuals asked 15 percent commission for every Special Allotment Release Order project.
In a letter of complaint to Duterte, Veronica Bautista of VNB Construction claimed the two uses to call provincial mayors and demand commission for every project.
“They are calling mayors for the 15 percent commission on each project claiming that they are the ones releasing the budget approval in DBM,” Bautista said in her letter.
Bautista also alleged that there were threats if the local chief executives failed to cooperate, the fund or the budget for the municipality would not be released.
“Mr. President, corruption is happening and we, small time contractors, are affected. We are being struck down because of the percentage they are asking,” she said.
Bautista is optimistic that Duterte, known to be an advocate against corruption, will act on their complaint and will immediately order an investigation on the matter.
