Ched Rick Gatchalian

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025. Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo/FILE

Article (news)

8 DPWH officials implicated in Davao Occidental ‘ghost’ project surrender to NBI

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176535394421117649199594771758799047139viber_image_2025-09-25_13-37-37-077.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025. Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo/FILE"/>Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025. Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo/FILE</div>MANILA — Eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly involved in a “ghost” infrastructure project worth P96.5 million in Davao Occidental voluntarily surrendered last Sunday, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).The NBI confirmed the development after <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/9/sarah-discaya-shows-up-at-nbi-amid-looming-arrest-warrant-1531">government contractor Sarah Discaya also voluntarily surrendered </a>to the agency on Tuesday, December 9, amid loosing arrest warrant.The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/raps-filed-vs-sarah-discaya-several-dpwh-officials-over-ghost-project-1608">graft and malversation charges</a> against Discaya, the St. Timothy Construction owner, and the 8 aforementioned DPWH officials.The DPWH officials who surrendered are:    1.    Rodrigo C. Larete – District Engineer    2.    Michael P. Awa – Assistant District Engineer    3.    Joel M. Lumogdang – OIC-Chief, Construction Section    4.    Harold John E. Villaver – Project Engineer    5.    Rafael C. Faunillan – Chief, Quality Assurance Section    6.    Josephine C. Valdez – Chief, Planning and Design Section    7.    Ranulfo A. Flores – Chief, Maintenance Section    8.    Czar Ryan S. Ubungen – Chief, Finance Section&quot;All eight officials executed letters of voluntary surrender and placed themselves under NBI custody, affirming their intent to face the legal process,&quot; NBI said in a statement.&quot;The process is moving. Accountability is catching up. No one is beyond the reach of the law. The NBI will continue to enforce the law fairly, firmly, and without favor. We observe due process — but we will not allow anyone to run from it,&quot; NBI Director Angelito Magno added.According to the Supreme Court, the two criminal complaints against the DPWH engineers of Davao Occidental and Discaya were filed with the Regional Trial Court, Malita, Davao Occidental.  They were received by the Regional Trial Court, Digos City, Davao Del Sur, which shares the same office.  &quot;The cases were immediately transmitted to the RTC, Malita, and are awaiting transfer to the special court handling anti-graft cases of the nearest region,&quot;SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille L. Ting said.Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano stressed earlier that the office found probable cause to file the charges against Discaya and the DPWH officials as they suspect them of &quot;conspiring&quot; to release the funds without completing the project.The said &quot;ghost&quot; project  involves a revetment in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. n 2022, the project was awarded to the St. Timothy Construction Corp.Clavano stressed that during the Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) inspection, they confirmed that no actual construction happened yet the respondents certified that the project had finished.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/marcos-says-cases-to-be-filed-vs-discaya-over-ghost-project-in-davao-occidental-1117">announced the looming warrant</a> against Discaya and other DPWH officials last week, which prompted the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prepare for the arrest and monitor the whereabouts of the suspects.<div> </div><div>&#x27;HINDI TAYO PINAHIRAPAN&#x27;</div>Meanwhile, Dizon is pleased that Discaya has voluntarily surrendered even before an arrest warrant against her was released.&quot;Buti hindi na niya tayo pinahirapan,&quot; Dizon said in response to the surrender.He reiterated his promise that more personalities in the flood control mess will be celebrating Christmas in jail.&quot;This week, ang kakasuhan naman yung sa Bulacan, yung kina Alcantara yon. So kung ano nangyari sa mga tiga DPWH, mangyayari din kina Alcantara,&quot; he said.&quot;Dahan-dahan natutupad na ang pangako ng Pangulo na bago mag Pasko marami ang makukulong at isa na diyan si Sarah Discaya,&quot; Dizon said. -- with reports from Jervis Manahan and Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News<div>RELATED VIDEOS:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vrl5law09B8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly involved in a “ghost” infrastructure project worth P96.5 million in Davao Occidental have voluntarily surrendered on Sunday, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly involved in a “ghost” infrastructure project worth P96.5 million in Davao Occidental have voluntarily surrendered on Sunday, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).