The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has installed new officers-in-charge in its Bulacan First District as investigations continue into alleged anomalies in flood control projects that led to the detention of former officials.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon warned the newly appointed engineers to avoid repeating the actions of their predecessors who now face multiple complaints linked to flood control projects in the province.

“‘Wag kayo gagaya sa mga papalitan ninyo. Kasi kung gumaya kayo, kung ano mangyayari sa kanila, ‘yun din mangyayari sa inyo,” Dizon said.

Engineer Kenneth Fernando was named officer-in-charge district engineer. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Japan and has worked in DPWH for 10 years.

Engineer Paul Lumabas was appointed officer-in-charge assistant district engineer. He served previously as OIC of the planning division and worked with the DPWH’s Public-Private Partnership Service at the central office.

They replaced former district engineer Henry Alcantara and former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez who are facing multiple complaints over alleged irregularities in flood control projects in Bulacan.

Dizon met the newly assigned engineers at a table allegedly used by Alcantara and Hernandez to divide millions of pesos in kickbacks. The meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary Rommel Tello, the OIC regional director and a retired two-star general of the Philippine Army.

DPWH said it conducted strict vetting to ensure the new officials have no links to the former officials.

The new officials also joined an inspection of a flood control project in Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit, which President Bongbong Marcos had earlier inspected after reports that the project was substandard.

“Seven months in one year bumabaha dito. Lahat ng mga involved dito kasama na sila SYMS, Wawao, St. Timothy rin ata dito lahat ‘yan may kaso na at most likely ma fifile na sa korte ng Ombudsman ‘yung mga kaso. Isara natin ‘yung gap so sisimulan na nila ‘yung proseso,” Dizon said.

Fernando said immediate steps are needed while funding is still being processed.

“Immediately, kailangan ma-survey habang inaayos po yung design ng flood control and at the same time magkaroon ng coordination meeting dito po sa lugar. So, while hinihintay yung pondo puwede gamitin ‘yung time na ‘yon para gawin lahat ng studies,” he said.

Former officials Alcantara, Hernandez, their former colleague Jaypee Mendoza, and contractor Curlee Discaya are currently detained at the Senate.

Hernandez and Mendoza were brought from Senate detention to the Department of Justice for preliminary investigation. They declined to give interviews.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Hernandez and Mendoza are respondents in new complaints related to flood control projects that the Office of the Ombudsman referred to the DOJ.

Meanwhile, NBI Acting Director Angelito Magno said contractor Sarah Discaya remains free to leave as no arrest warrant has been issued against her.

“Since wala pang warrant of arrest we cannot legally hold her… seserve natin warrant sa kanya if ever it will come out. We will serve the warrant, she will be booked, finger printed, photographed and then we will return the warrant,” Magno said.

(with reports from Balitanghali)