Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has issued show cause orders to 10 Regional Directors and District Engineers over allegations of "lavish lifestyles" and involvement in substandard or “ghost” flood control projects.
The list of officials under investigation, released by DPWH, includes:
- Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, NCR – Lavish Lifestyle
- Regional Director Danilo Villa, Region VII – Lavish Lifestyle
- Dir. Gerald Pacanan, Former Regional Director of IV-B – Substandard Projects
- Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol, CAR – Tampering of documents, failure to cooperate with ongoing investigation
- Atty. Brando Raya, ROWALD Chief, Region VII – Lavish Lifestyle
- Distric Engineer Isabelo Baleros, Former DE of Las Piñas-Muntinlupa DEO – Substandard Projects
- Distric Engineer Almer Miranda, Pampanga 1st DEO – Substandard Projects
- Distric Engineer Gil B. Lorenzo, La Union DEO – Substandard Projects
- Distric Engineer Arturo L. Gonzales Jr., Quezon City 1st DEO – Substandard Projects
- Distric Engineer Johnny L. Protesta Jr., Quezon City 2nd DEO – Substandard Projects
The show cause orders require the officials to submit written explanations within five days regarding the reports filed against them. Depending on the outcome of the investigations, appropriate administrative charges will be filed.
“We are giving them 5 days to submit their written explanations of the reports that we have received against them and later on, depending on the result of the investigation, appropriate administrative charges will be filed against them," he said.
He emphasized that the action is part of a systematic cleanup in the DPWH to ensure transparency and integrity within the agency.
“Habang tumatagal akong nakaupo rito sa DPWH, araw-araw na lang eh may bagong nadidiskubre. Lumalaki nang lumalaki ang nakikita nating problema,” Dizon said.
“I’m emotional here because the gravity of the problem is unthinkable. Talagang grabe. At andito pa lang tayo sa pananagot, part 1 pa lang,” he added.
Dizon warned that the investigation could lead to both administrative and criminal charges if evidence shows complicity in anomalous projects.
“Pasensyahan tayo dito, kung akala ng mga opisyales na hindi ko seseryosohin ‘yung sinasabi ko from very beginning. I hope this is proof that we are serious that the President is serious about this. And we will spare nobody, top to bottom,” he said.
He also cited ongoing concerns about other projects, including 1,000 classrooms turned over to the Department of Education that remain unfinished.
“Kahapon nga muntik na ako tumalon sa tulay na hindi natapos ng 8 years…Parang overwhelming na masyado ito eh,” Dizon expressed frustration.
The DPWH chief urged all personnel to cooperate fully with the Inter-Agency Committee on Infrastructure (ICI) and to submit and preserve all necessary documents.
Failure to comply will result in the same administrative and criminal consequences.
“Sa mga kawani ng DPWH: sumunod kayo sa dalawang order na inilabas namin to cooperate fully with ICI at preserve at i-submit lahat ng dokumentong required ng ICI,” Dizon said.
“Kung hindi sila sumunod ganito rin ang mangyayari sa kanila,"he added.
This move underscores the government’s intensified effort to combat corruption and mismanagement in public infrastructure projects, particularly amid repeated failures in flood control initiatives across the country.
