The Department of Public Works and Highways has asked the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct background checks on 14 of its appointed officials following allegations that some remain linked to contractors.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced on Thursday, October 23, that he has sent letters to the NBI, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Management Association of the Philippines and the Institute of Corporate Directors requesting assistance in vetting the following appointees:
Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain
Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar
Undersecretary Ador Canlas
Undersecretary Nicasio Conti
Undersecretary Charles Calima
Undersecretary Samuel Rufino Turgano
Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe III
OIC-Undersecretary Lara Marisse Esquibil
Assistant Secretary Nerie Bueno
Assistant Secretary Medmier Malig
Assistant Secretary Michael Villafranca
Assistant Secretary Constante Llanes Jr.
Assistant Secretary Michelle De Vera
Assistant Secretary Suzanne Marie Liwanag
Dizon said the independent vetting and background checks are part of the agency’s commitment to implementing reforms in the DPWH.
Prior to the review, the DPWH underwent a complete revamp after former Secretary Manuel Bonoan stepped down and was replaced by Dizon amid ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects, where the agency’s own employees had been implicated.
When Dizon appointed new undersecretaries in late September, Rep. Leandro Leviste (Bulacan, 1st District) claimed he knew several DPWH officials under Dizon’s watch who maintain links to contractors.
One of those he named was former Usec. Arrey Perez, who resigned to keep the integrity of the agency’s probe. Leviste, however, immediately backtracked and said he wasn’t referring to Perez. The undersecretary was replaced by Esquibil.
The lawmaker also pressed Dizon to make all meetings, connections and transactions of appointed officials transparent while the government investigates officials receiving kickbacks from infrastructure projects.
The DPWH has been probing its own officials – filing graft, malversation, bribery, bid rigging cases before the Ombudsman against district engineers, other high-ranking employees, and contractors involved in ghost projects.
It also sought the freezing of billions worth of assets through the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which has so far locked down about P5.2 billion across roughly 2,000 bank accounts.