Marcos: Independent body to probe DPWH corruption, 2026 insertions

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will issue an executive order creating an independent commission to investigate alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including questionable insertions in the proposed 2026 budget.

Speaking to reporters after the Turismo Asenso Loan awarding ceremony in Pasay City, Marcos said the commission will act as the administration’s investigative arm for DPWH anomalies and make recommendations on cases.

“The independent commission will be the investigative arm so that they will continue to investigate whatever information is received… and they will make recommendations as to what to do, whether to file cases, refer to the Ombudsman, or bring it to the DOJ,” Marcos said on Monday, Sept. 1.

The president said while initial probes focused on flood control projects, further scrutiny revealed “insertions” in the 2026 budget.

“Unfortunately, the more we look, the more we find. Even in the 2026 budget, there are still insertions. So it really needs to be cleaned out properly,” he added.

The commission’s structure has yet to be finalized, but Marcos said it may be composed of five to seven members, including forensic investigators, lawyers, former justices, and prosecutors.

Marcos recently appointed former Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon as DPWH chief after accepting the resignation of Manuel Bonoan, who stepped down under the principle of command responsibility.

“Under his watch, all of these problems happened,” Marcos said of Bonoan. “He felt that he should leave his post.”