The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has relieved four officials from their posts over alleged corruption and irregularities in the submission of supporting documents for proposed infrastructure projects under the 2027 national budget.
Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced the removal of the officials on Monday as part of the agency’s continuing internal cleansing campaign.
Those relieved include Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office District Engineer Hermon Ines, Cotabato 3rd District Engineering Office Engineer Saidale Mitmug, Apayao 2nd District Engineering Office Officer-in-Charge District Engineer Clifton Valencerina, and Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office District Engineer Amron Mitmug.
In separate memoranda, Lopez informed Ines, Saidale Mitmug, and Valencerina that they were being relieved of their duties and functions due to “reports of allegations of corruption.“
Valencerina was also linked to allegations of demanding a so-called standard operating procedure (SOP) fee from infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, Amron Mitmug was relieved over the alleged submission of “false supporting documents“ for projects included in the DPWH’s proposed 2027 national budget.
According to Lopez, Amron personally signed certificates of implementability covering 59 projects that were later found to be unimplementable.
Lopez said he would continue implementing the “one-strike policy” introduced by his predecessor, former DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, as part of efforts to address corruption within the agency.
He also vowed to immediately investigate personnel involved in questionable activities, stressing that no official would be spared in the department’s anti-corruption campaign.
