8 DPWH execs suspended over Surigao flood projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended seven engineers and an accountant of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with questionable flood control projects in Surigao del Norte. In a six-page order, the ombudsman said there is sufficient ground to suspend the respondents without pay for six months, pending resolution of administrative cases filed against them.

State prosecutors identified those suspended as DPWH-Davao district engineer Annie dela Vega; DPWH-Surigao del Norte first district engineers III Federico Gotico III,  Demilyn Castrence, Quintinano Armendariz Jr. and Edward Tinio; engineers II Ricky Arciga and Florencio Sulana as well as accountant Jerome Sulapas.

The suspension stemmed from complaints of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty filed by the ombudsman’s field investigation officer.

The ombudsman said a preventive suspension is a precautionary measure against possible abuse of authority by the respondents’ current offices in relation to the case.

Citing results of the investigation, the anti-graft body said the projects were found to be fully paid, but were incomplete.

The ombudsman did not provide details about the questionable projects.

Mindoro flood  project

Meanwhile, workers of construction firm Sunwest Inc. reportedly installed steel sheet piles into an alleged substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro without the presence of officials of DPWH-Mimaropa, a witness told justices of the Sandiganbayan.

Sunwest Inc. is linked to former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been wanted by authorities in connection with anomalous flood projects in several areas in the country.

During the presentation of evidence on the graft case involving Co and some DPWH officials, Barangay Tagumpay captain Nestor Asi said he visited the project site several times and saw the workers installing steel sheet piles at night.

The workers stop the installation when they see him around, Asi said.

He expressed belief it was intentional, noting that the installation was being done at night, usually starting at 7 p.m.

Asi said the sheet piles were only three meters long and were shorter than the required length.

He said he raised his concerns to Abraham Panaligan, maintenance foreman of the Naujan Construction.

Panaligan testified he visited the project site and saw the shorter steel sheet piles.

He said he and Asi had a meeting with a project engineer of Sunwest, who told them the short sheet piles were meant for a cofferdam.