Duterte told: Some names in your DPWH corruption list already dead

Some of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel whose names are listed among those allegedly involved in corrupt activities are already dead or have retired, President Rodrigo Duterte was informed on Sunday.

In a briefing on the government’s typhoon response, Duterte blasted corruption within the DPWH after a local official in Camarines Sur floated the idea of establishing a Bicol River basin to combat flooding.

The official said the project will require the coordination of the DPWH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the provincial government.

“Please understand that I do not have anything against [DPWH Secretary Mark] Villar. He’s very honest, he’s very good. Very industrious. Problem is, DPWH is inhabited with mga demonyo,” Duterte said.

The President has repeatedly alleged that corruption runs rife within the DPWH, ordering an audit of its projects as a task force probes corruption within the government.

However, the local official informed Duterte that some of the DPWH personnel tagged as corrupt have already died or retired.

“Excuse me, Mr. President. ‘Yun pong mga nakarating sa iyo na pangalan ng supposed to be corrupt officers of DPWH, ang iba po sa kanila patay na… ang iba po nag-retire na,” he said.

“Buti, kundi patayin na lang natin,” Duterte replied, eliciting laughter from those in the briefing.

Duterte earlier expanded the coverage of the government-wide corruption probe to include the DPWH.

Despite his declared contempt of corruption in the agency, Duterte has repeatedly stood by his DPWH chief.  —JST, GMA News