AT least 14 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) linked by President Duterte to corruption have been been dismissed from government, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said yesterday.
He declined to name the officials but said more will be axed as the department’s internal investigation on complaints and reports about suspected corruption and other irregularities is still ongoing.
Villar said the DPWH and a task force he formed last year is coordinating with other agencies to verify the allegations.
“Mayroong na-relieve na sa trabaho, mga labing-apat na ang na-relieve. And mayroon kaming ongoing naman, mayroon din kaming mga complaints sa aming task force against corruption (Several have been relieved, about 14. And investigations are ongoing, complaints have been received by our task force against corruption),” he said during the “Laging Handa” public briefing,
Villar said he is also set to reorganize DPWH this month on the order of President Duterte to reshuffle the department’s personnel, particularly district engineers.
The President has named persons in government who have either been charged, suspended or relieved from service due to alleged corruption.
In several speeches, Duterte has also said some DPWH district engineers and lawmakers are involved in corruption.
Last month, he named lawmakers who have been linked to alleged corruption but said there is no evidence to prove the allegations against them.
Villar assured the public that the DPWH’s programs and projects would not be derailed by the dismissal of some personnel, including district engineers, and reshuffle in the department. He said DPWH has a lot of talented personnel.
