Dizon relieves DPWH Pampanga 2nd District officials over 'kickbacks'

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said Friday he has relieved several officials of the DPWH Pampanga 2nd District Engineering Office after he received a report that they were allegedly asking for "kickbacks" or commissions from project contractors.

At the sidelines of his inspection of a collapsed dike in Barangay Candating in Arayat, Pampanga, Dizon identified three officials of the Pampanga 2nd District office "na nangingikil at humihingi ng porsiyento, up to 8%, sa mga kontrata ng DPWH (who were extorting and asking for commissions of up to 8% from the contracts of DPWH)."

"I'm announcing today, effective now, they are relieved and suspended and we will conduct a full blown investigation kung totoo ba 'yung report na natanggap ko na humihingi sila ng pursyento sa mga proyekto," the Public Works chief said.

(I'm announcing today, effective now, they are relieved and suspended and we will conduct a full blown investigation into the veracity of the report I received that they are asking for commissions from projects.)

Dizon said he is implementing a "one-strike policy," meaning when he received reports of irregularities against DPWH officials, they will be immediately relieved from their posts.

"Iimbestigahan sila at 'pag napatunayan, kakasuhan sila (They will be investigated and if proven, they will be charged)," he said.

On Monday, the DPWH announced an overhaul of the Candating flood control project in Pampanga after the dike collapsed due to faulty structural foundations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News