MANILA, Philippines – Nag-isyu si Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon ng magkakahiwalay na show-cause orders.
Inatasan niya ang regional director ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Davao at district engineer ng Davao Occidental engineering office na ipaliwanag ang P96.5 milyong Culaman Bridge flood control project sa Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, na kamakailan ay tinukoy bilang “ghost project.”
Naglabas si Dizon ng show-cause orders para kina DPWH-Davao Regional Director Juby Cordon at Davao Occidental District Engineer Rodrigo Larete matapos ang inspeksyon sa flood control project.
Sa kanilang inspeksyon nitong Huwebes, nadiskubre nina Dizon at dating Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ang proyekto na nagsimula lamang ang konstruksyon tatlong linggo ang nakalilipas, kahit pa idineklara na itong nakumpleto at fully paid noon pang 2022.
Ang proyekto ay iginawad sa St. Timothy Construction Company, na pagmamay-ari ng contractor na sina Cezarah “Sarah” at Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, na kasalukuyang iniimbestigahan sa kaugnayan umano sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
Batay sa show-cause order na may petsang Setyembre 26 at inilabas sa publiko nitong Sabado, tinukoy ni Dizon ang findings sa naturang flood control project at iginiit na ang Davao Occidental district engineering office ang nag-ooperate sa ilalim ng command authority at supervisory control ni Cordon.
Inatasan ni Dizon si Cordon na magpasa ng written explanation under oath sa loob ng limang araw kung “why you should not be held administratively liable for possible violations of existing laws, regulations, and orders.”
“Failure to respond within the stipulated time shall be construed as a waiver of your right to explain, and this Office shall resolve the matter based on the available records and evidence,” ani Dizon.
Samantala, sa show-cause order naman kay Larete, tinukoy ni Dizon ang findings sa Culaman Bridge flood control project na maaaring lumabag sa umiiral na batas, regulasyon at kautusan.
Partikular na tinukoy ni Dizon ang probisyon sa Section 63, Rule 10 ng 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (2025 RACCS):
A(1)(f) Grave Misconduct;
A(1)(h) Gross Neglect of Duty; | A(1)(l) Serious Dishonesty; and
A(2)(a) Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service.
Inatasan din si Larete na magpasa ng written explanation under oath sa loob ng limang araw kung bakit hindi dapat ito sampahan ng kasong administratibo.
Sinabi ni Dizon sa dalawang show-cause orders na “failure to respond within the stipulated time shall be construed as a waiver of your right to explain, and this Office shall resolve the matter based on the available records and evidence.”
Sa inspeksyon ng P96.5 milyong flood control project ay kasama si Larete, bilang siya ay district engineer ng probinsya kung saan sa pagkadismaya ay namura ito ni Dizon.
“Don’t you feel sorry for the students there, and the people here? Don’t you think about them? You (expletives with words starting with SOB), why did you pay for an incomplete project?” RNT/JGC
