Rappler
Ombudsman orders preventive suspension of 16 Bulacan DPWH officials
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon flagged "ghost or substandard" infrastructure projects after discovering "prop" pipes attached to a flood control structure in Bauang, La Union, costing approximately P179.4 million.
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of 16 DPWH personnel from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office over alleged ghost flood control projects worth P389.6 million.
Acting Ombudsman Dante F. Vargas issued the suspension to preserve the integrity of the investigation and prevent personnel from influencing it.
DPWH Secretary Dizon confirmed that criminal complaints have been filed against several DPWH personnel, and the Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba endorsed additional fraud audit reports.
These projects are tagged as ghost or graft-ridden due to lack of documents, non-existence of civil works, location discrepancies, or flawed bid plans.
Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan urged government agencies to pursue claims against warranties and performance bonds of contractors involved in anomalous flood control projects.
DPWH Secretary Dizon confirmed that warranty claims have already been initiated against some contractors.
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