8 DPWH execs suspended over flagged Surigao Norte flood control project

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday announced the suspension of eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials following a complaint that full payments were allegedly made for still-incomplete Surigao del Norte flood control projects.

In a six-page order, the anti-graft body placed seven DPWH engineers and one accountant under preventive suspension after the complaint was filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office II. 

READ: Unfinished P5B projects in Surigao del Norte listed as completed

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“The complaint stated that substantially incomplete projects were fully paid by the DPWH to the detriment of the government,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.

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Suspended for six months without pay were DPWH Regional Office XI District Engineer Annie Dela Vega, DPWH Surigao del Norte 1st district engineering office (DEO) Engineer IIIs Federico Gotico III, Demilyn Castrence, Quintinano Armendariz Jr., and Edward Tinio, Engineer IIs Florencio Sulana and Ricky Arciga and accountant Jerome Sulapas.

The preventive suspension was imposed pending the resolution of cases of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty. 

“Sufficient grounds exist to impose preventive suspension on Respondents,” the order stated.

“Without delving into the merits of the case and based on the evidence submitted by Complainant, the allegations against Respondents appear to be supported by strong evidence at this stage.” /gsg