Dizon asks PRC: Revoke licenses of 20 DPWH personnel in flood control mess

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has requested the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to revoke the licenses of 20 personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who were earlier slapped with corruption cases before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Dizon turned over Friday to PRC Chairman Charito Zamora the pieces of evidence for the revocation of professional licenses of engineers, accountants, and architects, including those whom he described as "superstars" in the flood control corruption scandal, namely sacked Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara, and former assistant district engineers Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.

"The evidence that we presented [to the PRC] are the cases that we have filed and the COA (Commission on Audit) fraud audit reports and the DPWH's internal fraud audit," Dizon said.

For her part, PRC chief Zamora said the professionals regulator will fast track the DPWH's request since the pieces of evidence presented are already comprehensive.

"For us, it is really just a matter of going through all these documents… there will be due process. We will give them a chance to answer and after that the board will decide," she said.

The PRC chief said the professional licensees in question will be given 15 days to explain and another 15 days to file their position letters.

"The board has 30 days to resolve," Zamora said.

The DPWH and the PRC also signed a memorandum of agreement to establish mechanisms for information exchange, referral of administrative complaints, and joint monitoring and coordination in investigation of violations.

Dizon explained that the MOA between the DPWH and PRC is likewise meant to deepen the working relationship between the two agencies not only to hold accountable those involved in the flood control anomalies but also to strengthen their cooperation in preventing professionals from doing unlawful schemes in the future.

“So, it's not just about accountability, but it's also about safeguarding the institutions and the projects that the DPWH is doing from now moving forward,” he said.

“Ang importante lang dito na pinag-agreehan namin ni Chair Zamora is kailangan may accountability. Hindi lang accountability ng mga kontraktor, pero accountability din ng mga professional officials and employees ng DPWH. Kasi lahat ng propesyon, meron 'yang Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and clearly, itong mga ginawa na ito is a clear violation of those ethical standards and Code of Conduct,” he added.

(What is important here in our agreement with Chair Zamora is there should be accountability. Not only the accountability of contractors, but also the accountability of professional officials and employees of the DPWH. Because all of the professions are governed by a Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and clearly what they did was a clear violation of those ethical standards and Code of Conduct.) — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News