MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (COA) have formally recommended the filing of five criminal cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against contractors allegedly involved in anomalous flood-control projects in Bulacan.

In a joint referral submitted on September 8, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba endorsed the list of contractors identified in a fraud audit as having ghost or substandard projects.

The contractors named were St. Timothy Construction, with two projects; Wawao Builders, also with two projects; and SYMS Construction Trading, with one project.

“This is only the beginning of our efforts to fix the agency. We will ensure that every person involved is held accountable and jailed. After this, we will also endorse the filing of criminal cases against those proven to be corrupt within the DPWH,” Dizon said.

He added that while most DPWH personnel are “honest, hardworking, and upright,” the agency must remove those who are not.

“Hindi makakamove-on ang DPWH kung hindi natin mapupurge itong institusyon na ito at ng masasamang tao. At ‘yon ang commitment ko kay Pangulo at sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi tayo titigil, hangga’t magawa natin,” he said.