NBI summons DPWH-Davao chief

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday served a subpoena on Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao director Juby Blancaver Cordon as the NBI widens its probe into the region's flood control and infrastructure projects flagged for possible irregularities.

Cordon was ordered to appear before NBI Director Melvin Matibag in Pasay on Sept. 24 and produce records covering 37 contracts, most of them in Davao City and Davao del Sur.

The subpoena, issued on Sept. 17 and received by the DPWH-Davao records section yesterday, seeks documents and testimony on the 47 flagged projects, which were found to involve possible violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation, Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Matibag initially described six of the 47 as clearly questionable based on the documents reviewed.