Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759452632302cropped-557631232_1222043756626440_1433964918670432232_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday formally referred two cases of bid manipulation and bid-rigging to the Philippine Competition Commission in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. DPWH/Facebook</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday formally referred 12 cases of bid manipulation and bid-rigging to the Philippine Competition Commission for preliminary inquiry and possible filing of appropriate cases.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/how-bids-are-rigged-in-flood-control-projects-a-former-contractor-speaks-2005">How bids are rigged in flood control projects: a former contractor speaks</a></div><p>The 12 &quot;rigged&quot; projects involve 5 contractors and several DPWH officials behind the alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects discovered in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>For Bulacan, the parties are: Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corporation, SYMS Construction Trading, the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corporation and officials and employees of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. </p><p>In Mindoro: Sunwest, Inc, which was founded by resigned congressman Elizaldy Co, and officials and employees of the DPWH Regional Office 4-B.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/almost-100-of-bidding-in-flood-projects-rigged-ex-dpwh-exec-bernardo-1807">Almost 100 percent of bidding in flood projects &#x27;rigged&#x27;: Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo</a></div><p>According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, evidence used for this referral are from the findings of internal investigations by the DPWH and the Commission on Audit, and those they gathered from the hearings at the Senate and House of Representatives, such as the admission by Sarah Discaya herself that several of their construction firms would sometimes compete against each other for one project.</p><p>“Preliminary evidence, including the admissions of Mr. Pacifico Discaya and Usec Roberto Bernardo before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, also suggests collusion among the involved contractors and officials, in violation of the Philippine Competition Act,” said the DPWH.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/senators-call-out-dbm-s-instant-release-of-funds-for-alleged-zaldy-co-insertions-1531"></a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/senators-call-out-dbm-s-instant-release-of-funds-for-alleged-zaldy-co-insertions-1531">Senators call out DBM&#x27;s &#x27;instant&#x27; release of funds for alleged Zaldy Co insertions</a></div><p>Also included in the basis of the referred cases are the repeated awarding of projects to contractors that have already been previously flagged for doing substandard work.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PENALTY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>If found guilty, the PCC may impose a fine of P110 million for the first offense and up to P250 million for subsequent offenses. </p><p>According to Dizon, this is still in line with the government’s goal to recover public funds that were lost to flood control anomalies.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/dpwh-initiating-warranty-claims-vs-ghost-substandard-flood-control-projects-1005">DPWH initiating warranty claims vs ghost, substandard flood control projects</a></div><p>&quot;Ang estimate namin dito, dito palang sa limang contractor na ‘to at 12 projects na ‘to ay P2.3 billion na ang pwedeng patawang penalty sa kanila ng PCC kapag nakita ng PCC na meron talagang bid manipulation at bid collusion,&quot; Dizon said.</p><p>DPWH Undersecretary Rico Bernabe also announced this morning that P1 billion worth of real estate properties owned by the Discayas were already included in the freeze order that the Anti-Money Laundering council released earlier this week.</p><p>This was the amount initially estimated by the Land Registration Authority after the appraisal of 18 properties— including houses, lots, and even office buildings. </p><p>He said this is to prevent these assets from being sold off before the government can initiate forfeiture proceedings.</p><p>Dizon even said that as much as P300 billion in penalties may be imposed on the Discaya couple for possible bid rigging in the 1,214 projects they cornered from 2016 to 2025.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n7mLglVpiBs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wpMxkOQaqos?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday formally referred 12 cases of bid manipulation and bid-rigging to the Philippine Competition Commission in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.</p>

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday formally referred 12 cases of bid manipulation and bid-rigging to the Philippine Competition Commission in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.

DPWH refers 12 cases of bid manipulation, rigging to PH Competition Commission

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DPWH refers 12 cases of bid manipulation, rigging to PH Competition Commission

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 03, 2025 08:54 AM PHT

|

Updated October 03, 2025 12:33 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

Wawao

Sunwest

flood control

corruption

PCC

crime

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