November 13, 2025 | 1:28pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended on Thursday, November 13, the filing of charges against six Department of Public Works and Highways engineers over a P74-million flood control project in Bulacan that was paid in full but never built.
In its fifth interim report — the gist of which ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes spoke of at a press conference — the ICI said it would submit its findings and recommendations to the Office of the Ombudsman concerning a project implemented by the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office through contractor Darcy & Anna Builders & Trading.
The project, involving the construction of a riverbank protection structure at Brgy. Carillo in Hagonoy, Bulacan “was never implemented, despite the unwarranted release and full payment of the contract cost,” the ICI said, citing the results of a Commission on Audit (COA) technical inspection.
The commission said it will recommend that the Ombudsman evaluate whether potential violations were committed by DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, Jolo Mari Tayao, John Michael Ramos, and Lemuel Ephraim Roque.
The ICI also wants the Ombudsman to evaluate possible violations by Darcy Kimel D. Respecio of Darcy & Anna Builders & Trading.
The charges being eyed by the ICI are violations of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Malversation and Falsification provisions of the Revised Penal Code, Presidential Decree 1759, and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Negligence, lapses cited
“It appears that several DPWH public officials were grossly negligent, if not remiss, in the performance of their respective duties to ensure that the project was properly implemented and that government funds were lawfully and prudently disbursed,” the ICI said in a briefer shared to reporters Thursday.
The report also urged the Ombudsman to assess whether potential violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees may exist on the part of former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral, among others.
As in past reports, the ICI stressed that its findings remain preliminary and that it “does not make categorical findings of guilt,” noting that “responsibility for determining liability rests with the proper authorities.”