Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Tuesday hits critics who accused him of allegedly misusing P56.5 billion of the road user’s tax since 2001.

Ebdane made clear that all projects implemented by the Road Board utilizing the funds from the Motor Vehicle Users Charge conformed to the requirements of Republic Act 8794 and were properly documented.

“If necessary, we can always go to the ground to check and verify the status of the projects we have approved. Our documentation is complete, and our record of disbursement covers all the allotments that have been made,” he said in a press conference.

The DPWH chief is among the officials of the Road Board together with its executive director Rodolfo Puno and other members recommended by the Senate committee on economic affairs to be charged with plunder and criminally before the Office of the Ombudsman.

They were accused of being involved in the “unconscionable road tax anomalies involving billions of pesos” and not observing the guidelines as to how the road tax collections would be spend to fully achieve its objectives. But Ebdane cited his adherence to the strict procedures involving the Road Board resolutions contrary to allegations against him of misusing the funds.

“The recommendations on what projects to undertake come from the district engineers on the ground, with due consultation and concurrence from the local government units involved as well as the Congressional representative,” he explained