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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson vows to help Dizon clean-up DPWH, kick out 'rotten' execs

Lacson vows to help Dizon clean-up DPWH, kick out 'rotten' execs

Published Sep 6, 2025 03:17 pm
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday, Sept. 6, vowed to support newly-appointed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon in his anti-corruption campaign by providing evidence against certain “rotten fruits” within the agency.
Senator Panfilo
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Office of Senator Lacson)
Lacson, who previously exposed corruption in substandard and "ghost" flood control projects during his Aug. 20 privilege speech, said the evidence he will turn over to Dizon should not only hold erring officials accountable but also serve as a warning to others.
“Godspeed, Sec. Vince Dizon. May the force be with you to cleanse the DPWH of greed and self-aggrandizement. My office will provide you with damning evidence against some ‘low hanging rotten fruits’ but will instill fear so that others will think twice before following their bad examples,” he said in a post on X.
But Lacson also reminded Dizon to "mind your health" while doing his work.
Lacson has repeatedly stressed the need for the certainty of punishment - charging, prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment - against those involved in wrongdoing, to end the corruption behind anomalous projects.
In a post on X last Thursday, Lacson said he was working on a sequel to his “Flooded Gates of Corruption” speech. He is set to deliver his next privilege speech on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
He earlier said he would deliver another privilege speech if he found new evidence of wrongdoing involving flood control projects.
Since assuming his new post, Dizon has moved to rid the DPWH of corruption, including demanding the courtesy resignations of the agency’s officials, moving for the permanent blacklisting of erring contractors, and a pause on locally funded project bidding.
Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction, contractors behind flood control projects in Bulacan, were permanently banned from participating in any government projects while former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara was called out for the irregularities in ghost flood control projects in the province.
In a seven-page decision released Friday, Sept. 5, Dizon ruled that Alcantara committed disloyalty to the Republic and the Filipino people, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. He added that the agency’s legal service will recommend the filing of criminal charges, with the former district engineer set to face the Ombudsman next week.
Law firm of Flaminiano Arroyo & Dueñas has released a statement on behalf of Alcantara regarding the "recent media releases that characterize him as the alleged 'king pin' of the Flood Control Ghost Projects in Bulacan".
"Engr. Alcantara maintains his innocence: he did not author these alleged ghost projects. Any wrongdoing was done behind his back, without his knowledge, acquiescence or approval. Engr. Alcantara will contest every accusation that he had supposedly participated in and/or benefitted from any unlawful scheme," it said.
"Engr. Alcantara will fully ventilate his position and avail of all remedies before the proper forum in order to prove his innocence and to answer all allegations against him, including his summary dismissal from the service. He will also continue to cooperate with the authorities and assist in the on-going investigation of these Flood Control Ghost Projects," it added.
Meanwhile, in an interview on DWIZ, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito was asked about the possibility of Alcantara being a whistleblower in the investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.
"Depende yan kung hindi siya yung most guilty...mukhang sila (Bryce Hernandez) po talaga ang most guilty dito eh kaya di natin alam if they will qualify as a witness," Ejercito said.
(That depends on whether he’s not the most guilty… it really looks like they [Bryce Hernandez] are the most guilty here, so we don’t know if they’ll qualify as a witness.)

Related Tags

Flood control ping lacson jv ejercito Henry Alcantara
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