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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DPWH files graft, malversation raps vs. 2 contractors, DPWH officials in La Union, Davao Occidental

DPWH files graft, malversation raps vs. 2 contractors, DPWH officials in La Union, Davao Occidental

Published Oct 23, 2025 06:31 pm
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) filed charges of graft and malversation through falsification of public documents against 12 officials from its La Union 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) and eight officials from its Davao Occidental DEO and several contractors for their involvement in the anomalous flood-control projects in their areas.
The complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) involved Contract ID Nos. 24AF0113 and 24AF109 in La Union and Contract ID No. 22LE0029 in Davao Occidental.
For the two contracts in La Union, named as respondents are District Engineer Gil B. Lorenzo, Assistant District Engineer Raul P. Gali, Chief of Construction Section Mario L. Laroya, Project Engineer Ethel Grace D. Guerrero, Project Engineer Joseph Brian F. Delizo, Project Engineer and Materials Engineer Christian Paul L. Eduria, Materials Engineer Albemar Elloise S. Estipular, Representative of the Office of the Construction Section Nestor D. Sibayan, Representative of the Quality Assurance Section Aries Graciano M. Novencido, Representative of the Office of the Planning and Design Section Jose D. Perez, Representative of the Office of the Maintenance Section Zyrah Marie A. Estipular, Chief of the Finance Section Dan G. Ginete, Marivic C. Manalo of Silverwolves Construction Corporation, represented by General Manager Moises A. Tabucol and Alvin D. Diego.
For the contract in Davao Occidental, named as respondents were District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete, OIC - Assistant District Engineer Michael P. Awa, OIC - Chief of Construction Section Joel M. Lumogdang, Project Engineer Harold John E. Villaver, Quality Assurance Section Chief Jafael C. Faunillan, Chief of Planning and Design Section Josephine C. Valdez, Chief of Maintenance Section Ranulfo A. Flores, Acting Chief of Finance Section Czar Ryan S. Ubungen, and St. Timothy Construction Corporation represented by Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, Authorized Managing Officer Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon led the filing against the said officials and contractors after inspecting the flood mitigation structures in La Union and Davao Occidental. It was found that the projects had been paid despite being “substandard and ghost” flood-control projects.
There were two flood mitigation structures along Bauang River Basin in La Union worth a total of P89.7 million each. The contractor in charge, Silverwoves Construction, was already fully paid for the “substandard” projects. On the other hand, the P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project was helmed by St. Timothy Construction.
Dizon said that the La Union project was supposed to have been completed in 2021, but after the flood-control scandal broke out, they reportedly started working on it again, Dizon said.
"So, it's really a ghost project, it's malversation committed through falsification," he said.
Dizon revealed that the person of interest in the company Silver Wolves Corporation is Rep. Eric Yap, who, the secretary said is "known to be the beneficial owner of the company."
"Yap divested from it a few years ago, supposedly, but there is reason to suspect that he's still the beneficial owner of the company, so there's a clear case of conflict of interest," he said.
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