8 DPWH staff suspended over unfinished projects
The Office of the Ombudsman has placed eight personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on preventive suspension pending its investigation of fully paid but incomplete flood control projects in Surigao del Norte.
“The complaint stated that substantially incomplete projects were fully paid by the DPWH to the detriment of the government,” the Ombudsman said on Wednesday.
Suspended for six months without pay were DPWH’s Davao Region district engineer Annie Dela Vega; Surigao del Norte engineers Federico Gotico III, Demilyn Castrence, Quintinano Armendariz Jr., Edward Tinio, Florencio Sulana and Ricky Arciga; and Surigao del Norte accountant Jerome Sulapas.
The Ombudsman has opened its investigation of complaints against the respondents for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.
“Sufficient grounds exist to impose preventive suspension on Respondents,” the order said.
“Without delving into the merits of the case and based on the evidence submitted by complainant, the allegations against respondents appear to be supported by strong evidence at this stage.”
