DPWH files criminal complaints vs 20 officials, 4 contractors in flood control mess
Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday, Sept. 11, filed criminal complaints against 20 agency officials and four contractors of questionable flood control projects before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.
The complaints include violation to the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and the government procurement law, as well as malversation of public funds.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who led the filing, said the complaint stemmed from five anomalous projects in Bulacan.
Controversial DPWH Bulacan officials were among the respondents, including dismissed district engineer Henry Alcantara, as well as assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.
In a 36-page complaint, the agency said its internal audit found “a broader scheme repeatedly involving the same officials” including the three personnel and other employees.
“The IAS (Internal Audit Service) found that certifications of project accomplishment were issued and payments were authorized despite incomplete, defective, or unperformed works. Project logbooks and supporting documents were missing or grossly inadequate,” the complaint read.
“The audit directly linked these officials to the preparation, falsification, validation, and approval of accomplishment reports, SWAs, field construction inspection reports (FCIR), variation orders, and certificates of completion. Despite glaring deficiencies, these documents were prepared, reviewed, endorsed, and approved by said officials, with Alcantara and later Hernandez approving in their capacity as district engineers,” it added.
The following DPWH employees are also facing complaints:
+ John Michael E. Ramos
Chief, Construction Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Ernesto Galang
Chief, Planning and Design Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Lorenzo Pagtalunan
OIC-Chief, Maintenance Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Norberto Santos
Chief, Quality Assurance Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Jaime Hernandez
OIC-Chief, Maintenance Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Floralyn Simbulan
Chief, Administrative Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Juanito Mendoza
Chief, Finance Section, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Roberto Roque
Head, Budget Unit, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Benedict Matawaran
Head, Procurement Unit, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Christina Mae Pineda
Cashier II, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Paul Jayson Duya
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Merg Jaron Laus
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Lemuel Ephraim Roque
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Arjay Domasig
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ John Carlo Rivera
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ John Benex Francisco
Project Engineer, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
+ Jolo Tayao
Engineer II, DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO
Contractors facing complaints
The DPWH also filed a complaint against Sarah Discaya, the beneficial owner of St. Timothy Construction Corp., who admitted in a Senate hearing that her family participated in bidding for the same government flood control projects.
Four other contractors and officials were also named:
+ Syms Construction Trading, represented by Sally N. Santos, Proprietor/General Manager
+ Wawao Builders, represented by Mark Allan V. Arevalo, Owner/Manager
+ IM Construction Corporation represented by Robert T. Imperio, Owner/Manager
+ St. Timothy Construction Corp., represented by Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, Owner/General Manager
St. Timothy and Wawao are on the president’s list of the top 15 contractors that cornered the most number of flood control projects.
The DPWH has earlier blacklisted Wawao and Syms over so-called ghost projects, banning them from taking on government deals.
The agency said its Bulacan personnel conspired with construction firms “to facilitate fraudulent fund releases, causing undue damage and injury to the government and granting unwarranted benefits to the contractors.”
Dizon said the offenses are non-bailable and may result in life imprisonment.
“Tayo po’y kumonsulta sa legal luminaries. At ang sabi nila, ang kanilang suggestion and recommendation is mag-file ng mga kaso na pinakamadaling patunayan given the evidence that we have, at pinakamabilis… at ang nag-agree po ang lahat na ang pinakamadaling i-prove at pinakamabilis ay itong mga kasong sinama natin dito,” the Cabinet official said when asked why a plunder case was not filed.
[Translation: Let us consult legal luminaries. And according to them, their suggestion and recommendation is to file the cases that are easiest to prove given the evidence that we have, and the fastest… and everyone agreed that the easiest to prove and the fastest are the cases we have included here.]
This marks the first complaint filed against personalities in the flood control mess. Dizon said more cases will come in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, he also noted that the independent commission will be responsible for politicians tagged in the flood control scandal.
Dizon urged the public to continue reporting red flags in DPWH projects and employees.
“I-channel natin ang galit natin para hulihin pa ang mga ito…Kmuha po kayo ng mga litrato. Kung meron po kayong mga kaibigan o kilala sa DPWH na nakikita nyo sa social media na nagpapakita ng mga magagagarang kotse, magagarang bahay, padala nyo po sa amin,” he said.
[Translation: Let’s channel our rage into catching these people… Please take photos. If you have friends or acquaintances at the DPWH that you see on social media showing off fancy cars or luxurious houses, send them to us.]
