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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sec Dizon files graft, malversation thru falsification charges vs DPWH officials in Bulacan, owners of 4 construction firms

Sec Dizon files graft, malversation thru falsification charges vs DPWH officials in Bulacan, owners of 4 construction firms

Published Sep 11, 2025 01:25 pm
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon filed with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) graft and malversation through falsification charges against officials of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) and owners of four construction firms for involvement in “ghost and substandard” flood control projects.
The complaints were filed against former District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Construction Section Chief Jaypee D. Mendoza, Construction Section Chief John Michael E. Ramos, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, OIC-Chief Maintenance Section Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan, Quality Assurance Section Chief Norberto L. Santos, OIC-Chief Maintenance Section Jaime R. Hernandez,
Administrative Section Chief Floralyn Y. Simbulan, Finance Section Chief Juanito C. Mendoza, Budget Unit Head Roberto A. Roque, Procurement Unit Head Benedict J. Matawaran, Cashier II Christina Mae D. Pineda, Project Engineer Paul Jayson F. Duya, Project Engineer Merg Jaron C. Laus, Project Engineer Lemuel Ephraim C. Roque, Project Engineer Arjay S. Domasig, Project Engineer John Carlo C. Rivera, Project Engineer John Benex S. Francisco, and Engineer II Jolo Mari V. Tayao.
Five private respondents were also included in the complaints: Syms Construction Trading Proprietor and General Manager Sally N. Santos, Wawao Builders owner and Manager Mark Allan V. Arevalo, St. Timothy Construction Corporation owner and General Manager Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando and beneficial owner Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, and IM Construction Corporation owner and manager Robert T. Imperio.
Secretary Dizon asked the OMB to charged them with violations of Sections 3(e) and (g) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Article 217 in relation to Article 181 of the Revised Penal Code, malversation of public funds through falsification.
Dizon said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Internal Audit Service (IAS) uncovered "a consistent pattern of fraudulent misrepresentation, falsification, collusion, and blatant disregard of Commission on Audit (COA) regulations across multiple contracts" after inspecting several infrastructure projects in Bulacan from Aug. 13 to 20, 2025.
The complaints stated that the Bulacan DPWH officials issued project accomplishments and issued payments even though the flood-control projects were incomplete, defective, or unperformed.
The IAS was unable to obtain project logbooks and supporting documents related to the projects, and the Variation Orders they secured were undated or irregularly processed, the complaints also stated.
Dizon told the OMB that the anomalies formed part of a "broader scheme" that repeatedly involved the same officials -- in particular, Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, Galang, Santos, Roque, Rivera, Francisco, and Domasig.
These officials, he said, were directly linked to the preparation, falsification, validation, and approval of accomplishment reports, statement of works accomplished (SWAs), Field Construction Inspection Reports (FCIR), Variation Orders, and Certificates of Completion.
He also said that the IAS inspected five projects -- the construction of slope protection at Barangay Namayan, Malolos by Wawao Builders; the construction of pumping station and flood gate at Barangay Atlag, Malolos by IM Construction Corporation; the construction of pumping station and flood gate at Barangay Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy by IM Construction Corporation; the construction of flood control structure at Maycapiz-Taliptip River, Package B, Bulacan by Syms Construction Trading; and construction of reinforced concrete river wall at Purok 4, Barangay Piel, Baliuag by Syms Construction Trading.
"Through their concerted acts, these officials conspired with contractors (Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corporation, Syms Construction Trading) to facilitate fraudulent releases, causing undue injury to the government and granting unwarranted benefits to the contractors," the complaint said.
Dizon asked the OMB to refer to the Fraud Audit Reports earlier submitted by the COA, which detailed the serious discrepancies committed by the Bulacan officials and private contractors that resulted in defective and substandard works.
The COA's reports also pinned down projects undertaken by St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which were the subject of the recent Senate hearing on questionable flood-control projects, he also said.
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