DPWH task force probe into alleged corruption will be ‘on all levels’

No one will be spared from the ongoing investigation of the recently-created Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) task force that will look into the alleged anomalies in the agency, Secretary Mark Villar said Saturday.

“Lahat kasama sa imbestigasyon namin. Lahat po, walang mawawala sa imbestigasyon,” Villar said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

The Public Works chief made the statement to clarify that the task force’s probe will not only focus on those in lower levels after President Rodrigo Duterte said those occupying lower ranks in DPWH are likely to be involved in corruption.

However, Villar said the investigation will put greater focus on the project engineer levels.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said corruption is an "open secret" in the implementation of public works projects, "involving not only some corrupt officials of the department but some legislators as well."

“Lahat ng complaints galing sa labas at sa Office of the President ay iimbestigahan namin at gagawa kami ng action sa lalong madaling panahon,”Villar said.

The Cabinet official said the agency will release its findings “in the next month or so.” 

“Nakikipag-coordinate din kami sa PACC (Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission) at pati sa Infrawatch kausap na namin,” Villar said, noting the DPWH will also get in touch with the internal affairs of concerned agencies.

“Ang thrust ng ating task force ay mag-collect ng evidence... Iimbestigahan din lahat ng accusations para magkaroon kaagad ng hard result,” he said.

In a Department Order dated October 17, Villar ordered the creation of the task force to be headed by DPWH Assistant Secretary Mel John Verzosa.

“The TAG shall investigate anomalies allegedly perpetrated by officials and/or employees of the Department, based on valid complaints," the order read.

Recently, a Commission on Audit report showed that DPWH has P100 billion worth of delayed and unimplemented projects in violation of procurement law and agreed contracts.

In its 2019 annual audit report on DPWH, COA said that these delayed and unimplemented projects reached P101 billion in 2019, lower than the 2018 figure of P118 billion.

DPWH attributed the delayed implementation of projects to the delayed release of capital outlay allotments, which only started in June 2019 due to delayed approval of 2019 national budget law.

Meanwhile (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica in an earlier radio interview claimed that some congressmen are “bullying” district engineers, alleging conspiracy among lawmakers, contractors, and district engineers.

This prompted House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Mike Defensor to dare Belgica to name the congressmen allegedly involved in corrupt activities within the DPWH. 

Belgica on Saturday however refused to take Defensor’s dare and said he does not want to do “blind items or make a bulletin board or a noise board of our investigation.” —KG, GMA News