The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (COA) will submit recommendations on Monday afternoon for filing criminal charges against government contractors involved in ghost and substandard flood control projects.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said a separate set of recommendations targeting DPWH insiders will be submitted later this week, either Thursday or Friday. He explained the delay was due to awaiting additional evidence from Senator Panfilo Lacson, who plans to provide more information on corrupt DPWH employees allegedly colluding with contractors.
“Sa Huwebes o Biyernes, inaayos na rin natin ang mga kaso dito sa mga (taga)-loob ng DPWH. Kaya lang na-delay ng konti dahil hinihintay natin ‘yung privilege speech ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson sa Wednesday dahil nagsabi siya sa akin na bibigyan niya ako ng dagdag na ebidensya against dito sa ibang masasamang kawani ng DPWH na naging ka-kuntsaba ng mga contractor na ito,” Dizon said in a DZMM interview.
The DPWH will also forward the names of implicated contractors and individuals to the Department of Justice for possible inclusion in immigration lookout bulletins.
Dizon welcomed Akbayan party-list lawmaker Chel Diokno’s proposal that DPWH officials sign bank waivers and has asked the department’s legal team to study the suggestion.
Additionally, Dizon is considering five outsiders for new undersecretary positions after requesting courtesy resignations from all current DPWH deputies. He said, “Sa mga plano kong ilagay na undersecretaries, meron akong tinitingnan pa lang na 5. Outsider lahat. Kailangan may mga bago tayong dadalhin dito na marurunong, trusted natin at kayang gawin ‘yung trabaho.”