14 DPWH district engineers relieved from posts over alleged corruption —Villar

Fourteen district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly involved in corruption have been "relieved" from government service, Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday.

“Actually, ‘yung binanggit po ni Presidente na-relieve na,” Villar said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Labing apat na ang na-relieve na sa trabaho,” he said.

Duterte last month ordered DPWH district engineers who are involved in the corrupt practices alleged before the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to vacate their posts.

Duterte asked Villar to give him a list of all district engineers in the country after claiming that several of them worked in connivance with congressmen for corrupt activities.

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission earlier said “less than 12” congressmen were involved in corruption in the DPWH. 

Villar said that efforts to cleanse the DPWH’s ranks is not yet over despite the sacking of several district engineers as the agency is still investigating and open to receive complaints against its officials and employees.

“Tuloy-tuloy naman ang imbestigasyon namin sa lahat ng mga nagsa-submit ng reports,” he said.

“Humihingi kami ng tulong sa ibang ahensya para magkaroon ng case build up sa ibang mga complaints,” he added.

The Public Works chief also said that the DPWH will undergo a reorganization within the month.

“Magkakaroon rin kami ng rigodon sa loob ng department and marami ang magiging pagbabago. Tuloy tuloy naan ang laban sa corruption,” Villar said.

“Within the month definitely. Wino-workout na namin and definitely maipatutupad na ‘yan as soon as possible,” Villar said.  —KBK, GMA News