MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways – Bulacan First District Engineering Office were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman to prevent them from exerting influence in the ongoing investigation of alleged anomalies in the government’s flood control projects.
Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas issued the preventive suspension order on Sept.18, after DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon filed criminal complaints against several personnel last September 15.
It also comes after Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba endorsed additional fraud audit reports relative to flood control projects located in the municipalities of Plaridel, Pandi, and Bocaue.
In a statement, the Ombudsman said that these ghost or graft-ridden projects either lacked the necessary supporting documents, were non-existent, had discrepancies in their pinpointed locations or flawed approved bid plans.
The projects in the thee towns of Bulacan had a total budget of P389.6 million.
