Dizon: DPWH undersecretary has quit, but facts must prevail
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Arrey Perez, whom Secretary Vince Dizon had personally brought to his team, has resigned after a lawmaker accused him of ties with contractors.
Dizon described Perez as a "good worker" and urged fairness in the investigation process as he announced the official's irrevocable resignation on Friday, October 17.
This was after Rep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas 1st District) accused a DPWH official of conflict of interest in having connections with contractors.
In a dzRH interview earlier on Friday, Leviste made public Perez's name, whom he accused of conflict of interest, saying he received information that the undersecretary is poised to oversee procurement for major infrastructure projects for the department.
While he has yet to provide evidence on the accusation, Leviste said he would leave it to Dizon to conduct the probe.
"My focus is that we should reform the system, and not think that simply changing the people handling the bidding would eliminate corruption," Leviste said.
At a separate press conference, Dizon said he informed Perez of Leviste’s accusation against him and said that this will be investigated.
Perez has since handed in his resignation.
“Anang-unang wina-welcome niya yun pero ayaw niyang makasagabal at ayaw niyang maging distraction ito dahil alam niya na napaka-bigat ng kailangan natin gawin at siya ay mag-tender ng irrevocable resignation. At ito siyempre ay tinanggap ko na. So as of today, hindi na po parte si Undersecretary Perez sa DPWH,” Dizon said at a press conference in Subic.
(First of all, he welcomed this but he said he does not want to be a nuisance and distraction because he knows how heavy their work is so he had tendered his irrevocable resignation. And of course I accepted this. So as of today, Undersecretary Perez is no longer part of the DPWH.)
Dizon urges due process
Despite accepting Perez’s resignation, Dizon said the investigation into alleged contractor links will continue but stressed the need for due process and factual basis before assigning blame.
Dizon also pointed out that it was the DPWH’s job to talk to contractors in order to build more infrastructure. A DPWH official speaking to a contractor is normal, Dizon said.
What would be anomalous is if the contractor starts asking the DPWH for favors, he said.
While Dizon said he understood the environment of information these days, with many wanting immediate results from the investigations, there was a process to be followed. If anyone was to be held accountable, it should be based on facts, he stressed.
The DPWH secretary said he knew Perez to be a good worker, with Dizon himself seeking him out from the private sector. Prior to his appointment to the DPWH, Perez was president and chief executive officer of Clark International Airport Corp. He also served as chief regulatory officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.
The DPWH is being treated as a “ground zero” of sorts for corruption in the government, with the agency being tied to kickback schemes involving billions of pesos. Several officials in the DPWH are already being investigated for corruption schemes.
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