Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Marcos Jr. orders corruption probe into P1.2-B bridge collapse in Isabela

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740901835470New Project.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Screengrab from a drone video of the collapsed newly-built Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela on Friday morning, February 28. <em>Video from SDN Events\Chu Taquiqui</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into potential corruption in a bridge in Isabela province that took more than a decade to build and collapsed the same month it was opened to the public, a Palace official said.</p><p>A portion of the P1.22-billion Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge — which was completed in February 1, 2025 after more than 10 years of construction — collapsed late Friday, reportedly after a truck weighing 102 tons passed through.</p><p>“Nagkausap kami ni Pangulo kahapon regarding this. Ito talaga ay papaimbestigahan,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a radio interview on Saturday.</p><p>(The President and I talked about this on Friday. This will really be investigated.) </p><p>She said that even a hint of corruption since construction on the bridge began in 2014 will need accountability.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/3/1/4-hurt-in-isabela-bridge-collapse-still-in-hospital-local-government-staff-1335">4 hurt in Isabela bridge collapse still in hospital: local government staff</a></div><p>“‘Pag nalaman natin kung sino ang mayroong pagkakamali dito at may bahid nga ng korapsyon, kung may bahid ng korapsyon ay dapat may managot, makulong,” she said.</p><p>(If we find out who is responsible and if there is even a hint of corruption, they should be held accountable and jailed)</p><p>Initial information from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed that the 990-meter bridge’s construction started in November 2014.</p><p>The project was contracted to the R.D. Interior, Jr. Construction firm, the DPWH had said.</p><p>“Further analysis on the cause of failure is still on-going and DPWH Region 2 has requested experts from the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction in the Central Office to conduct further evaluation and assessment,” the agency said in an earlier statement.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/2/28/collapsed-cabagan-santa-maria-bridge-just-opened-feb-2025-cost-p1-2-b-1024">Collapsed Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge just opened Feb 2025, cost P1.2-B - DPWH</a></div><p>The project was supposed to be completed in 2019, but was delayed after several defects were flagged, Castro said.</p><p>“May nakitang depektibo kaya nagkaroon ng retrofitting. Siyempre ‘pag sinabi mong retrofitting, ibig sabihin may problema na dati pa ‘di ba,” she said.</p><p>(There were some defects, to it needed retrofitting. Of course, when we talk about retrofitting, that means there was a problem, right?)</p><p> The road mishap in Isabela last week injured at least six people, including a minor, and left four vehicles damaged.</p><p>The collapse of the bridge has prompted calls for investigation and accountability, with ACT Teachers Party-List saying the probe should go beyond low-level officials.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lang dapat ang flagman ang sinisisi dito. Kailangang managot ang contractor at mga DPWH officials na nag-approve at nag-supervise ng proyektong ito,&quot; ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro said.</p><p>(Responsibility must go beyond the flagman. The contractor and the DPWH officials who approved and supervised this project should be held accountable too)</p><p>The driver of the truck involved in the crash has reportedly surrendered to authorities while the flagman — tasked with directing traffic across the bridge — is at large.</p><p>Former ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, one of the party-lists&#x27;s nominee in the May elections, said the Isabela bridge is not an isolated case.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve seen multiple instances of newly built or rehabilitated infrastructure failing prematurely. This points to a systemic problem of corruption and lack of proper oversight in our infrastructure projects,&quot; he said.</p><p>Akbayan party-list nominee Chel Diokno, a human rights lawyer, meanwhile, joined the call for an investigation, but also called for government &quot;to provide the necessary assistance especially to the passengers of the four vehicles that were affected by this incident.&quot;</p><p>He added: “In the immediate, dapat din tiyakin ng DPWH na may alternate routes na puwedeng gamitin ng mga sasakyan (the DPWH must make sure there are alternate routes that motorists can use).&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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/hkZ32e3o1Jc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into potential corruption in a bridge in Isabela province that took more than a decade to build and collapsed the same month it was opened to the public, a Palace official said.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into potential corruption in a bridge in Isabela province that took more than a decade to build and collapsed the same month it was opened to the public, a Palace official said.