DPWH exec ‘throws cash in the air’ at party; to face graft raps

A regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would be facing graft and corruption and partisanship charges after “throwing cash in the air” at a party in Quezon province.

Councilor Arkie Manuel Yulde, incumbent councilor in Lopez, Quezon, on Thursday filed a complaint against DPWH Region I Director Ronnel Tan, husband of Quezon Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan.

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Yulde is accusing Tan of grave misconduct, corrupt practices, conduct unbecoming a public officer, and involvement in partisan political activities.

The complainant mentioned a recent incident where Tan threw a party at his residence in Quezon and “threw cash in the air” for his visitors.

“The respondent indulged in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth. During a recent party celebrated by respondent and his wife in their residence in the 4th district of Quezon Province, two mayors… had witnessed the respondent brought with him a box filled with cash estimated to be about P2 to 3 million. Due to his excitement, respondent shouted to the guest, ‘pag-agawan ninyo itong pera,’ then ‘threw the cash in the air’ such that the guest will be fighting over picking up as many cash they can get. The mayors said some guests got P100,000, others got P200,000,” the complaint reads.

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“Such ostentatious display of wealth by respondent is surely a grave misconduct committed by a public official,” the complaint also reads.

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DPWH exec to face graft raps

Yulde also mentioned in his complaint that the DPWH exec had a “huge house” at a posh subdivision in Quezon City, where a square meter of land costs P75,000.

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The house is reportedly built on a 600-square-meter property.

Yulde also accused that Tan had prevented and even threatened several barangay officials from attending meetings or conferences Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez organized.

“He is supposedly a government official, and he cannot engage in partisan political activity,” his lawyer Freddy Villamor said.

When asked if Yulde was an ally of Suarez, Villamor said he did not know.

Villamor added that they are still gathering more evidence.

“We’re also looking at the possibility of supplementing the complaint later on,” he said.