Newly appointed Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon announced Tuesday, September 2, that the DPWH will not investigate alleged corruption within its own ranks, saying the task will instead be handled by an independent commission to be created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid controversies over anomalous flood control projects.
Dizon replaced Manuel Bonoan as DPWH chief just a day after Bonoan revealed that such an internal committee was looking into the issue.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Dizon said he would defer to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to form an independent commission to handle the investigation.
“Hindi po ako naniniwala na ang organisasyon eh dapat, pwedeng imbestigahan ang sarili niya. Hindi po ata tama iyon,” he said. (“I do not believe that an organization should investigate itself. I don’t think that is right.”)
The new secretary added that all information gathered so far by the DPWH would be turned over to the commission once it is constituted. While he did not disclose possible members, names floated include Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former PNP Chief Nicolas Torre. Dizon said he would welcome Magalong’s appointment if confirmed.
The probe follows President Marcos’ disclosure of preliminary findings on alleged anomalies in flood control projects. After the government published a list of past and ongoing projects online, lawmakers, media groups, and civic organizations flagged possible irregularities and signs of systemic corruption within the DPWH.
