Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - No documents related to the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects were destroyed in the blaze that gutted the third floor of the Bureau of Research and Standards building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Quezon City on Wednesday, according to Secretary Vince Dizon.“Ito ang division ng DPWH na nag-aaral, nagpo-provide ng mga studies para sa iba’t ibang mga proyekto. Hindi siya parte ng implementasyon ng proyekto,” said Dizon.Although there were several documents that were affected, including past field testing reports and materials sources reports, the agency said backup copies are available.“We have reports that all of these are scanned and are 100 percent backed up in our online and physical drives,” said Officer-In-Charge Undersecretary for Convergence Projects and Technical Services Lara Esquibil. Dizon also clarified that the DPWH MIMAROPA or Region IV-B office, which is located a couple of hundred meters away from the BRS building, was not affected by the fire.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/22/fire-hits-dpwh-building-in-quezon-city-1350">Fire hits DPWH building; Ombudsman orders probe</a></div>He said Assistant Secretary Melody Villar merely misspoke during Wednesday’s Senate hearing when she mentioned that it was the Region IV-B office that was set ablaze.This information had initially caused alarm to some, especially since Oriental Mindoro, which is part of MIMAROPA, is among the areas earlier flagged for having ghost and substandard flood control projects.“The region IV-B building is safe and sound,” said Dizon.<div>CAUSE OF FIRE </div>Dizon said that according to the preliminary report of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the incident was caused by an electrical short-circuit.But he noted that they will not rule out the possibility of arson or any other motives until the investigation is complete.“Kahit ako, talagang nababahala ako sa mga ganyang pangyayari. At kung suspetyoso ang publiko at ang media, maniwala kayo, mas suspetyoso kaming dalawa ni General (Arthur) Bisnar,” said Dizon.<div>SECURING CRUCIAL EVIDENCE </div>Dizon earlier directed all District Engineering Offices and Regional Offices of the DPWH to make digital copies, and send hard copies of vital documents on flood control projects to the Central Office in Manila to ensure that these records are secured and preserved.“We have gotten all (flood control documents) from 2022 to 2025 and we are now receiving earlier years. 24/7 guwardiyado itong mga dokumentong ‘to dito sa Central Office. Gwardiyado rin itong central office from possible infiltration,” he said. Dizon earlier said these documents will be shared to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is tasked to probe dubious public works projects over the last ten years.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/23/dpwh-to-file-charges-against-22-gov-t-officials-contractors-1713">DPWH files charges against 22 gov&#x27;t officials, contractors in flood control scandal </a> </div>DPWH Undersecretary for Regional Operations in Luzon Arthur Bisnar added that the agency has sought the help of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure offices across the country.“Meron rin pong request kay SOJ (Secretary of Justice) para po yung NBI Cybersecurity Unit ay magsagawa ng digital forensic sa mga databases dito sa central office, at humingi rin si Secretary (Dizon) ng tulong kay DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) Secretary para yung CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) ay ma-deploy para makita rin ang mga digital files sa iba’t ibang opisina ng DPWH,” said Bisnar.

No documents related to the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects were destroyed in the blaze that gutted the third floor of the Bureau of Research and Standards building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Quezon City on Wednesday, said Secretary Vince Dizon.

No documents related to the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects were destroyed in the blaze that gutted the third floor of the Bureau of Research and Standards building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Quezon City on Wednesday, said Secretary Vince Dizon.

Dizon says no documents related to flood control probe were lost in fire

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Dizon says no documents related to flood control probe were lost in fire

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 23, 2025 10:27 PM PHT

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Fire

DPWH

Flood Control

Documents

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