Two of 10 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who will be investigated for deemed lavish lifestyle and for implementing substandard projects are assigned in Central Visayas.

According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, show cause orders were already sent to the 10 DPWH regional and district engineers.

The said officials are given five days to submit their reply to the show cause order.

If pieces of evidence are established, these will be endorsed, along with pertinent documents, to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for the filing of criminal cases.

Aside from the ICI, the documents will be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

DPWH Regional Office 7 Director Danilo Villa and Atty. Brando Raya, chief of the Right of Way Acquisition and Legal Division, are among the 10 officials.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak went to the DPWH 7 office to get the side of the two officials, but they were reportedly not around.

The news team was also instructed to coordinate first with the DPWH Central Office on any request for media interview as the head office determines which official will issue a statement.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) vowed preparedness to conduct a lifestyle check on the said officials should there be an order from their superiors, according to Atty. Rennan Augustus Oliva, NBI-Central Visayas Regional Office (CEVRO) director.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro backs the lifestyle check. In fact, she urged the ICI to include in their investigation the flood control projects in Cebu, as the province made it to the second spot on the list with the most number of flood mitigation projects implemented by DPWH.

Further, NBI-CEVRO has inspected at least 15 flood control projects in Cebu, most of which are substandard based on initial findings.

However, they would further embark on technical investigation to ensure the validity of their assessment.