COA clears PEA: No overprice in road project.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Christian V. Esguerra

THE COMMISSION on Audit has cleared the former management of the Public Estates Authority (PEA) in the alleged P600-million overprice of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, a 5.1-km road in the Manila Bay reclamation area which its principal critic dubs the "most expensive asphalt road in the country."

The total cost, including price adjustments, in the construction of the asphalt road was "reasonable and, therefore, not overpriced," according to the findings of a special audit team.

Banking on the COA report, ex-PEA deputy chief Manuel Berina yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to junk the plunder case filed against him and other officials by whistle-blower Sulficio Tagud Jr., a former board member.

In a nine-page motion to dismiss, Berina, former Assistant General Manager Jaime Millan, former Deputy Manager Bernardo Viray, and former project management officer Pocholo Zorilla said COA's findings "not only exonerate the respondents from the present charge of plunder (but) it also affirms that they had performed their functions as officers of the PEA with integrity, ability and honesty."

The respondents, along with seven higher ranking PEA officials, were the subject of a complaint filed last year by Tagud and cause-oriented groups.