The complaint was submitted though OIG’s hotline on Sunday last week.
In his reply, OIG’s Edward Woo told the confidential complainant that the review by senior management officials “have determined that the issues raised would be better addressed by the Office of Insular Affairs.” Therefore, the complaint will be referred to the OIA director’s office for review and appropriate action.
OIA is under Interior.
Since the complainant or complainants requested confidentiality, OIG said it will refer the complaint “with redaction to eliminate your identity.”
“We appreciate you communicating this matter to us. Your commitment in helping the DOI improve the effectiveness of its programs and operations benefits not only the department but also the public we serve,” OIG said.
The complaint contained information about the $2.9 million public cemetery project in Marpi. It names Maeda Pacific Corp. as contractor and KimCo as sub-contractor that is responsible in erecting the power poles from the main road all the way to the cemetery.
The contracting officer, the complainant said, went for a costly power connection to the utilities grid by installing close to 50 power poles instead of following the initial plan to have a stand-alone generator for sprinkler system, restroom and lights.
“This is an abuse and waste of federal funds. There is no way to justify dozens of power poles and a subcontract with KimCo for sprinklers and a restroom at a cemetery,” the complainant told OIG.
The unreasonable and wasteful expenditures and lack of transparency in the cemetery project, the complainant said, “have raised speculation in the community that fraud and corruption may have occurred.”
“It is our understanding, however, that the original overall cost of the cemetery project (not including the power poles) was approximately $1 million.
During court hearings, the government’s attorneys indicated that the cemetery project has thus far cost approximately $3million,” the complainant said.
The Variety tried but failed to get a comment from Stump.
