The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has filed corruption charges against 20 of its employees in Bulacan and four private contractors, including St. Timothy Construction Corp., before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The move follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to hold accountable those involved in anomalies related to flood control projects in Bulacan province.
DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon personally submitted vital documents to support the cases, the agency said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The charges were filed for alleged violations of several laws, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Malversation of Public Funds, the DPWH said.
“This is what the President has been saying … everyone who must be held accountable should be held accountable,” Dizon was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Even if he knows them, even if they are his friends or allies, everyone must be made accountable. This is just the beginning,” he said.
The DPWH officials charged include former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara and other personnel from the province’s 1st District Engineering Office.
They are: former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Construction Section Chief Jaypee D. Mendoza and John Michael E. Ramos, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, OIC Maintenance Section Chief Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan and Jaime R. Hernandez, Quality Assurance Section Chief Norberto L. Santos, Administrative Section Chief Floralyn Y. Simbulan, Juanito C. Mendoza of the finance section, Budget Unit Head Roberto A. Roque, Procurement Unit Head Benedict J. Matawaran and Cashier Christina Mae D. Pineda.
Also charged are: Project Engineers Paul Jayson F. Duya, Merg Jaron C. Laus, Lemuel Ephraim C. Roque, Arjay S. Domasig, John Carlo C. Rivera, John Benex S. Francisco, and Jolo Mari V. Tayao.
The contractors named are: Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao Builders, Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando and beneficial owner Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Robert T. Imperio of IM Construction Corporation.
Dizon also said the president has ordered to fast-track the investigation into corrupt DPWH officials to ensure swift justice for the public.
