The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered 10 more officials to explain their alleged lavish lifestyles and involvement in substandard projects. The officials include regional directors and district engineers.
“We have received reports of lavish lifestyles of 10 DPWH regional directors and district engineers,” DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon said in a news briefing.
Dizon said some officials were even using chartered flights for travel.
“We issued show cause orders to them. This is just the start, based on reports and evidence submitted to us by different sources.”
He urged other DPWH executives involved in corruption to cooperate with an investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and “tell the truth.”
“My suggestion is that they come out and tell the truth. We will refer them to the ICI,” Dizon said, adding they should not follow the example of three dismissed Bulacan DPWH engineers who first denied their involvement in a kickback scheme before admitting their roles.
Among the 10 officials named were NCR regional director Gerard Opulencia and Region VII regional director Danilo Villa, both for lavish lifestyles. Central Visayas right-of-way acquisition and legal division chief Brando Raya was also cited for a lavish lifestyle. De Isabelo Balleros, a former district engineer for Las Pinas and Muntinlupa, was named for substandard projects and document tampering.
Former Region IV B regional director Gerald Pacanan was cited for substandard projects in Oriental Mindoro, while CAR regional director Khadaffy Tanggol was named for failing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation.
Other officials linked by Dizon to substandard projects include Almer Miranda, Pampanga First District engineer; Gil Lorenzo, La Union district engineer; Arturo Gonzales Jr., Quezon City First District engineer; and Johnny Protesta Jr., Quezon City Second District engineer
The DPWH also asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze P474.48 million worth of vehicles owned by 26 individuals allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.
Dizon said the list, based on Land Transportation Office records, includes contractor Cezara Discaya with P218 million in vehicles, contractor Pacifico Discaya with P59 million, and contractor Mark Allan Arevalo with P16.6 million.
Also on the list are three DPWH assistant district engineers: Brice Hernandez with P35.3 million in vehicles, Jaypee de Leon Mendoza with P18.5 million, and Juanito Mendoza with P7.9 million.
“This is just an initial list. We will submit this today to the AMLC, DOJ, and ICI,” Dizon said.
