DPWH pursues dismissal, tightens vetting in corruption cleanup

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Dizon said while four officials have been dismissed, the remaining 16 are under preventive suspension as the department pursues administrative cases in coordination with the Civil Service Commission. (Department of Public Works and Highways/facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured senators on Monday that administrative and dismissal proceedings against personnel accused of corruption are continuing despite procedural issues raised in the Office of the Ombudsman.

During the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberation of the agency’s proposed 2026 budget, Senator Rodante Marcoleta asked DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon about the status of the criminal complaints filed last Sept. 11 against 20 officials of the agency’s Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.

Dizon said while four officials have been dismissed, the remaining 16 are under preventive suspension as the department pursues administrative cases in coordination with the Civil Service Commission.

“Pagka-file namin ng kaso, nag-show cause order kami to initiate administrative proceedings against the 16 na hindi pa dismissed. Tuluy-tuloy po kami sa administrative process (After we filed the case, we issued show-cause orders to begin administrative proceedings against the 16 who were not yet dismissed. The administrative process continues),” Dizon told senators.

Marcoleta noted that an office order issued by then-acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas on Sept. 17 — which removed docket numbers for complaints filed within the previous 10 days — may have affected the validity of the DPWH’s suspension order.

Dizon, however, said the department’s own internal process remains active and independent of the Ombudsman’s procedural lapses.

“We will continue to implement internal accountability mechanisms while respecting due process,” Dizon said.

The senator also raised concerns about the appointment and background of DPWH Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, who oversees regional operations in Luzon.

Marcoleta cited information suggesting that Bisnar had spent several years under the Philippine National Police’s Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, which handles officers on floating status or under investigation.

Dizon defended Bisnar, saying he worked closely with him since his time at the Department of Transportation, where Bisnar led the Office for Transportation Security and helped eliminate issues such as the “tanim-bala” (bullet planting) scam in airports.

“From what I know of him, he’s a man of integrity and very strict—a quality we need as we clean up the DPWH,” Dizon said, adding that he has asked the National Bureau of Investigation and private sector groups to independently vet all undersecretaries and assistant secretaries he appointed.

Marcoleta welcomed the assurance, saying he only wanted to ensure that officials with significant oversight over DPWH regional operations are “properly vetted” given the agency’s continuing efforts to curb irregularities.

“I do not question your discretion in hiring personnel, Mr. Secretary. I’m just being cautious, given the gravity of responsibilities attached to the position,” the senator said.