MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) asked some of its regional and district engineers to explain their lavish lifestyles and substandard projects.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said on Wednesday, September 24, that the following officials have been issued show cause orders:
Lavish lifestyle
- NCR District Engineer Gerard Opulencia
- Region VII District Engineer Danilo Villa
- Region VII Right of Way Acquisition and Legal Division (ROWALD) Chief Atty. Brando Raya
Substandard projects
- Former Mimaropa Regional Director Gerald Pacanan
- Las Piñas-Muntinlupa former district engineer Isabelo Baleros
- Pampanga 1st District Engineer Almer Miranda
- La Union District Engineer Gil B. Lorenzo
- Quezon City 1st District Engineer Arturo L. Gonzales, Jr.
- Quezon City 2nd District Engineer Johnny L. Protesta, Jr.
Failure to cooperate with ongoing investigation
- Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol
“We are giving them five days to submit their written explanations of reports that we have received against them, and later on, depending on the results of the investigation, appropriate administrative charges will be filed against them,” DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said in a press conference on Wednesday, September 24.
Pacanan, who once oversaw projects in Oriental Mindoro, was linked to anomalous flood control works in the province.
Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor earlier alleged corruption in these projects, claiming Pacanan had told him contractors were required to set aside 25% “for the higher-ups,” a 5% “parking fee,” and another 12% for other cuts.
The lavish lifestyles of DPWH officials came under intense scrutiny following the flood control project controversy. Dismissed DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, along with other DPWH personnel, also gambled millions of pesos in casinos, according to Senator Ping Lacson.
Hernandez recently turned over his luxury vehicle to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as part of ongoing investigations. – Rappler.com