The answer on what caused former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo City Engineering Office officer-in-charge Engr. Al Fruto's suicide attempt eight months ago is now known.

Contrary to health and family problems as reason, a letter entitled "Sobra na, tama na!" that was sent by "concerned citizens of the Republic of the Philippines advocating Matuwid na Daan ni President P-Noy," alleged that Fruto allowed himself to be an instrument by DPWH Director Engr. Evelyn Baroso and Lone District Cong. Jerry Treñas in their "corruption practices in exchange for his ambition to reach the highest position as District Engineer."

The letter stated that Fruto was instructed by Baroso that for every project entered for Treñas's district, the congressman has an outright 15 percent share based on the contract awarded to Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH.

For example, the source alleged if Treñas has an annual release of P70 million after bidding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) projects, and then the winning bidder's cost is P68.5 million, around P 10.27 million will be directly given to the congressman, which is his 15 percent share.

The source added that the share was collected by Treñas' brother Francis who allegedly acted as collector and bag man of the congressman.

"But Fruto could not bear the illegal transactions made by Baroso and Treñas which affect the total implementation of the projects and discredit Sec. Singson's program "Right Cost, Right Price at Right Quality", the letter stated in Tagalog.

The letter also revealed that after Fruto survived the suicide attempt, the congressman was heard saying that the engineer was the one who insisted on being assigned at the congressman's district but he had been incapacitated.

On the other hand, both Baroso and Treñas denied the accusations. Baroso said these are all lies. She added that if the source is within the regional office, she will conduct an investigation.

For his part, Treñas said this is political propaganda. He said how can he get kickbacks when the projects in his district lack funds?

REPLACEMENT

The letter further revealed that it took a month after the incident for Baroso to find Fruto's replacement in the person of Engr. Josefino Melgar Jr. from the Bacolod City District Engineer's Office. Fruto was then assigned at the DPWH Regional Office.

But, the source said Melgar's appointment put Treñas at stake because Melgar is also a follower of Baroso and Undersecretary for Regional Operations Romeo Momo.

The source alleged that Melgar could deliver more money for the regional director without the congressman's knowledge because he is a first-timer representative.

The source added that as a practice during his Bacolod City stint, Melgar approves the release of payments for projects in the district level and allegedly gets three percent for every billing or payment made to government projects.

The source stated that 1.5 percent goes to Melgar while the other 1.5 percent goes to the chairman or member of the BAC.

Source said "if this corruption has been practiced in the district level, how much more in the regional level?"

The source further stated that they found out that instead of three percent, Baroso demands seven percent share from all bid projects in the regional office. Of the seven percent, three percent goes to her and the remaining four percent will be distributed to the BAC regional office.

SUICIDE ATTEMPT

To recall, Fruto was found unconscious by his mother inside his bathroom in their house at Brgy. Balantang, Jaro at 4 a.m. of Sept. 17, 2011.

He had a laceration on his left wrist.

He was immediately brought to the Iloilo Mission Hospital.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog ordered his men to check on the engineer because the incident was not reported to the police.

Jeffrey Celiz, Mabilog's spokesman, described Fruto as hard-working and never been involved in any corruption case. He expressed surprise upon hearing of Fruto's suicide attempt.

Prior to the incident, Fruto was last seen revealing the plans for the 14-kilometer Iloilo City Circumferential Road (C1) project worth almost P2 billion. The said project was recommended by Mabilog and Treñas.*