Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Agatha Gregorio

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/175825316895320250825-dpwh-building-JC0852.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas has ordered the preventive suspension of 16 more personnel of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/dpwh-to-file-raps-vs-18-personnel-contractors-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-0804">DPWH files raps vs 25 personnel, contractors tagged in flood control mess</a></div><p>This, following the filing of criminal complaints against DPWH staff and additional fraud audit reports on “ghost” flood control projects in the district office.</p><p>This was to “prevent the personnel concerned from exerting influence over the ongoing investigation, as well as to safeguard public records and ensure that accountability measures can proceed without obstruction,” according to the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/15/brice-hernandez-dismissed-from-dpwh-0943">Brice Hernandez, other DPWH Bulacan officials dismissed from service</a></div><p>Based on a memorandum from the DPWH, the suspension will last six months “except when the delay in the disposition of the case is due to their fault, negligence or petition, in which case the period of delay shall not be counted in computing the period of preventive suspension.”</p><p>The memorandum, dated September 19, names the personnel and asks Regional Office No. III Director Roseller Tolentino to immediately implement the order by serving them a copy within 48 hours from receipt.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/8/new-dpwh-chief-dizon-brings-in-new-team-to-clean-house-1203">&#x27;I trust them&#x27;: DPWH chief Dizon brings in new team to clean house</a></div><p>The personnel include Construction Section Chief John Ramos, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang, Maintenance Section OIC Chief Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Quality Section Chief Norberto Santos, Maintenance Section OIC-Chief Jaime Hernandez, Administrative Section Chief Floralyn Simbulan, Budget Unit Head Roberto Roque, Procurement Unit Head Benedict Matawaran, Cashier II Christina Pineda, Project Engineer Paul Duya, Project Engineer Merg Laus, Project Engineer Lemuel Roque, Project Engineer Arjay Domasig, Project Engineer John Rivera, Project Engineer John Francisco, and Engineer II Jolo Tayao.</p><p>The projects were tagged as “ghost” or graft-ridden due to various reasons, including lack of necessary supporting documents, non-existence of civil works, discrepancy in pinpointed location, or flawed approved bid plans.</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>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said the preventive suspension was issued against 17 personnel instead of 16.</p><p>Dizon mentioned this on Thursday at the Office of the Ombudsman after he and Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba filed fraud audit reports on four “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/philippines-ghost-flood-projects-leave-residents-stranded-1129">Philippines &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood projects leave residents stranded</a></div><p>It can be recalled other respondents Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and Juanito Mendoza were already dismissed.</p><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/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&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/Sl1daHU6e7M?&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/uESsfCLpWfk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of 16 more personnel of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of 16 more personnel of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.

Ombudsman suspends 16 DPWH personnel in Bulacan over flood control mess

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Ombudsman suspends 16 DPWH personnel in Bulacan over flood control mess

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 19, 2025 10:32 AM PHT

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Updated Sep 19, 2025 05:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

DPWH

flood control

COA

fraud audit

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