Some DPWH Baguio engineering office execs suspended over alleged manipulated bidding

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the suspension of some personnel of the Baguio City District Engineering Office for alleged rigging, fixing, and manipulation of the bidding process for infrastructure projects in the city. 

According to the memorandum dated September 26, the following are given five days to explain why they should not face appropriate administrative charges:

• Rene Zarate, district engineer 
• Cesario Rillera, Planning and Design Section chief 
• Nora Delos Santos, Maintenance Section chief 
• Jessie Ramos, Planning and Design Section Engineer II 
• Frances Vincent Saloria, Planning and Design Section Engineer II  
• Frigilda Legaspi, Administrative Officer II 
• Members of the BAC-TWG

GMA News Online is trying to get comments from the individuals and will publish them as soon as they are available.

Zarate is the head of the Baguio City district engineering office. 

“The said manipulation of the bidding process is allegedly done to favor contractors or companies used as dummies by the spouses and family members of certain employees of the DEO,” the memorandum read.

“It was also alleged that a particular contractor – Goldrich Construction and Trading – has been consistently favored, enabling it to secure 67% of the total appropriation of the projects allocated for Baguio City DEO from 2022 to 2025, excluding the projects awarded to Tango-Romeo General Construction, alleged to be a dummy or co-owned company of the latter,” it added. 

The DPWH said that the suspension is in response to a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to hold accountable those responsible for anomalous agency projects.

Dizon also filed a formal charge and a 30-day preventive suspension against Zarate for failing to cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. –NB, GMA Integrated News