DPWH-7 execs faces probe for lavish lifestyles

Local

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has begun investigating two high-ranking officials from Central Visayas for allegedly living beyond their means and raising questions about their conduct in office.

DPWH-7 Regional Director Danilo Villa and Atty. Brando Raya, chief of the Right-of-Way Acquisition and Legal Division (ROWALD), are among 10 DPWH officials who were issued show-cause orders on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Both are reportedly being investigated for lavish lifestyles, prompting scrutiny of their financial records and professional activities.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency has given the officials five days to submit written explanations and supporting documents related to the accusations.

“We are giving them five days to submit their written explanations of reports that we have received against them, and later on, depending on the results of the investigation, appropriate administrative charges will be filed against them,” Dizon said in a press conference.

The show-cause orders are part of a wider inquiry into DPWH officials across the country, including those with ties to substandard infrastructure projects or failure to cooperate with investigations.

Dizon emphasized that once sufficient evidence is found to prove involvement in anomalous flood control projects, cases will be referred to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

In its initial list, the DPWH named officials found to be living beyond their means, engaging in questionable projects, or refusing to cooperate in the ongoing probe.

Those flagged for lavish lifestyles include National Capital Region Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, Central Visayas Regional Director Danilo Villa, and Region VII Right-of-Way Acquisition and Legal Division Chief Brando Raya.

Officials tagged for substandard projects include former Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald Pacanan, former Las Piñas-Muntinlupa District Engineer Isabelo Baleros, Pampanga 1st District Engineer Almer Miranda, La Union District Engineer Gil B. Lorenzo, Quezon City 1st District Engineer Arturo L. Gonzales Jr., and Quezon City 2nd District Engineer Johnny L. Protesta Jr.

Meanwhile, Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Director Khadaffy Tanggol was cited for failing to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

MyTV Cebu tried to reach Villa for comment regarding the show-cause order, but he has not responded as of this writing.

Previously, while he was not tagged in investigations linked to substandard or ghost projects, Villa had publicly denied the existence of such in Central Visayas.

“Ang guni-guni po ay walang nangyaring katotohan na parang inisip mo lang na meron pero wala… Sinisugardo ko po na base ho sa report ng ating tao sa Region 7 ay wala po ganong klase’ng proyekto,” Villa told MyTV Cebu on August 20.

Villa had issued the clarification after concerns arose over the collapse of a flood control structure along the Butuanon River in Mandaue City, and after President Marcos inspected an alleged ghost project in Baliwag, Bulacan.

He also stressed that delayed projects follow phased funding and implementation schedules, and that the public can monitor progress through the DPWH dashboard.(MyTVCebu)