The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has filed two additional bid rigging cases before the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), targeting contractors involved in alleged manipulation of flood control projects worth hundreds of millions of pesos.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday submitted complaints for preliminary inquiry against St. Timothy Construction Corp. of the Discayas and Silverwolves Construction Corp. of a certain Moises Tabucol, along with several officials from DPWH’s Davao Occidental and La Union 2nd District Engineering Offices.
The cases cover three contracts related to what the department described as ‘ghost and substandard’ flood control projects in Culaman and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, and Bauang in La Union.
The DPWH expects to recover approximately P500 million from the two contractors.
‘The President said those who should be held accountable must be held accountable, these people should be imprisoned, and we must ensure the money stolen from the people is returned. As long as we gather evidence, we will continue to recommend filing complaints,’ Dizon said.
The latest filings bring the total number of contracts referred to the PCC to 15, with potential fines reaching P3.13 billion if those implicated are found guilty under Section 14, Chapter III of the Philippine Competition Act.
Meanwhile, complaints filed by Secretary Dizon with the Ombudsman on October 23 against 20 accredited and licensed DPWH officials have been forwarded to the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) for investigation and possible filing of multiple charges.
Dizon’s anti-corruption drive has gained momentum in recent months, with the agency filing multiple cases against contractors and officials suspected of anomalies in government infrastructure projects.
Authorities have also secured freeze orders on assets linked to the alleged irregularities as part of efforts to recover misused public funds.