Arrey Perez quits DPWH over Leviste’s contractor links claim - Dizon
Metro Manila, Philippines - A public works undersecretary plucked out of a lucrative private sector post had quit in less than a month after a neophyte lawmaker insinuated links to contractors, Secretary Vince Dizon said on Friday, Oct. 17.
Dizon said he accepted the irrevocable resignation of Arrey Perez, one of the officials sworn into office in a sweeping revamp of the agency.
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste said based on rumors the DPWH official may have connections to infrastructure contractors.
Appointed in September, Perez was undersecretary for operations in charge of convergence projects and technical services. Dizon brought him in when he took over the agency.
He was chief regulatory officer of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and also served as president of Clark International Airport Corporation.
“As of today, hindi na po parte si Undersecretary Perez sa DPWH. Siya mismo ay nagkusa at nirerespeto natin ‘yung desisyon niya,” said Dizon, noting that Perez resigned to give way for the investigation.
[Translation: As of today, Undersecretary Pereze is no longer part of the DPWH. He volunteered and I respected his decision.]
The DPWH chief said the probe against Perez, and former agency officials like resigned Secretary Manuel Bonoan and former Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral - both mentioned in the flood control mess - will continue.
Dizon said while he welcomed Leviste’s claims, the probe must be based on facts and not hearsay.
“Ganun talaga sa gobyerno. Wala tayong magagawa. Madaling magsabi, madaling manira, ganun talaga normal iyon. Hindi ako magtataka kung ako sisirain din,” he added.
[That’s how it is in government. We can’t do anything. It’s easy to say something, to throw shade, it’s normal. I wouldn’t be surprised if I myself would be discredited as well.]
Leviste earlier urged the Secretary and his team to share information with past, current, or potential future contractors of projects.
The DPWH chief maintained he will exempt no one from the flood control mess, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive not to spare anyone from the corruption scandal.
