Pampanga municipal engineer arrested for acting as ‘fixer’
MANILA — A municipal engineer in Pampanga was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly extorting P50,000 from a businessman in exchange for securing a government certificate needed for his building permit application.
The businessman, identified as alias “Joey,” said the engineer initially offered to facilitate the processing of permits for his warehouse and apartment, charging P45,000 and P110,000, respectively.
“‘Pag kukuha ka ng building permit, sa kanya ka pupunta. Inalok niya ako na sila na lang mag-aayos,” Joey said.
He later discovered that he still needed a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after being flagged by the municipal government.
When he asked the engineer about the missing document, the latter allegedly demanded an additional P50,000.
“Grabe ‘yung ginawa sa akin. Kasi nagbayad naman ako sa usapan namin na kasama dapat doon sa building permit,” Joey said.
“Kailangan kasi bago gawin ‘yung structure o bago ibigay ‘yung [permit], meron nang CNC. Eh patong-patong na ‘yung ano niya sa akin, panloloko,” Joey said.
He eventually sought assistance from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The CIDG explained that a CNC is issued by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau to certify that a project is exempt from securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) because it falls below the environmental impact threshold.
The document is often required by local government units and other agencies before approving building and business permits.
Its standard processing fee is only P1,240.
CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief PCol. Grant Gollod said investigators are looking into the possibility that the engineer had previously extorted money from other applicants.
Based doon sa nakuha nating information is 36 years na siyang municipal engineer. Wala na nga siyang masabi kasi nakuha na ng ating video na talagang tinanggap niya ‘yung pera at saka binilang pa niya,” Gollod said.
The suspect is facing complaints of robbery-extortion and violation of Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
CIDG Director PMGen. Robert Morico II stressed that the law seeks to promote accountability and efficiency in government transactions while preventing graft and corruption.
The CIDG and ARTA also reminded the public that the law penalizes fixers in government agencies and aims to eliminate red tape and streamline the delivery of public services.