Dizon files cases vs 20 DPWH Bulacan officials, 4 contractors over flood control projects

Trisha Anne Segumban

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon filed criminal complaints on September 11 before the Office of the Ombudsman against 20 officials of Bulacan First District Engineering Office and four private contractors for their alleged involvement in flood control projects anomalies.

The respondents are charged with violating RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code on Malversation of Public Funds, Article 171 on Falsification of Documents, and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Among those named are former District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, section chiefs, project engineers, and finance officers.

Contractors charged include Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao Builders, Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, and Sarah Discaya of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Robert T. Imperio of IM Construction Corporation.

Dizon says the cases currently cover five projects, including a 55 million concrete river wall in Baliuag.

He adds that more complaints will be filed in the coming weeks.

“Lahat ng kailangang managot ay dapat managot,” Dizon says, quoting Marcos’ call during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to hold accountable those behind corruption in flood control projects.

He added that no one will be exempt from liability saying, “Kahit kakilala niya, kaibigan niya, kaalyado niya, lahag dapat managot.”

The filing of cases comes after widespread flooding in July that reignited public concerns over corruption in the government’s flood control program.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier pointed out that about P1 trillion allocated for flood control since 2011 may have been lost due to corruption.

Following the issue, Marcos ordered the DPWH to immediately submit a list of all flood control projects completed and ongoing in the past three years for review by a monitoring committee.

The president also launched the “Sumbong sa Pangulo“ website, which allows the public to track and report anomalous flood control projects.

According to the website, there are 9,855 flood control projects worth P545 billion since 2022, with more than 6,000 projects valued at P350 billion not specifying the type of structure being built.