Bulacan: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered the immediate implementation of a six-month preventive suspension without pay, as imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman, against 16 officers and employees of the agency's Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. These personnel were involved in anomalous flood control projects.

According to Philippines News Agency, a one-page memorandum dated September 18, addressed to DPWH Central Luzon regional director Roseller Tolentino by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, stated that the order is pursuant to Section 9 of Administrative Order No. 17. This amends Rule III of Administrative Order No. 07 (Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman) and Section 24 of Republic Act 6770, the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

The officials ordered suspended by the Ombudsman include Construction Section Chief John Michael Ramos, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang, and other key personnel from the DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. The memorandum highlighted that the preventive suspension against certain individuals is moot due to their prior dismissal from service.

The suspension is linked to criminal complaints filed by Dizon on September 15 and fraud audit reports endorsed to the Ombudsman by Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba. These were concerning flood control projects in the municipalities of Plaridel, Pandi, and Bocaue, which have been flagged as potentially ghost or graft-ridden projects.

The Ombudsman noted discrepancies such as a lack of necessary supporting documents, non-existence of civil works, and flawed approved bid plans, for projects valued at PHP389.6 million. In response, Dizon has instructed Tolentino to distribute copies of the memorandum to the respondents.

Additionally, Dizon directed all department employees to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) into the irregularities. The ICI, tasked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is mandated to investigate anomalies and misuse of funds in public infrastructure projects, holding accountable those involved and recovering misappropriated funds.