THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of criminal charges against several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and private individuals in connection with a PHP96.5-million ghost infrastructure project in Davao Occidental.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said on Friday that graft and malversation cases will be lodged before the Regional Trial Court of Digos City against Cezarah Rowena Discaya and other respondents.
Also to be charged are District Engineer Rodrigo Larete, Assistant District Engineer Michael Awa, multiple section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors from the DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office, as well as Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation.
No bail was recommended.
Clavano said the DPWH officials implicated have been placed under preventive suspension for six months.
According to the Ombudsman, the respondents conspired to facilitate the release of PHP96.5 million for the construction of a revetment project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos in 2022—a project that was never carried out.
“This filing marks the second major case acted upon by our Office following the series of infrastructure corruption allegations raised this year,” Clavano said.
He added that the Ombudsman will pursue the case “firmly, independently, and without fear or favor,” stressing that public funds meant for community protection must not be diverted for personal gain.
