Marcos to create independent probe body on DPWH projects

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is set to create an independent body that will investigate anomalous flood control and other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) across the country, the structure of which is still being finalized.

This comes after Marcos accepted the resignation of Manuel Bonoan as DPWH chief over the weekend.

“We are putting together the EO (executive order) that will create the independent commission,” Marcos said after attending an event in Pasay City yesterday.

“It depends on how it’s structured. Will it be composed of five members, seven members? Who will head, chair it? All of those things. So, we haven’t put the structure together yet. But the names I think I mean it,” Marcos said in mixed English and Filipino when asked who will head the commission. He did not elaborate.

However, he revealed that the panel will include forensic investigators, lawyers, justices and prosecutors.

It is tasked to come up with a recommendation to the ombudsman or Department of Justice on the legal actions to be taken against individuals responsible for the questionable projects based on the evidence and the information received by the government, he added.

“They will recommend to the Executive what to do with certain parties who have been found to be part of all this corruption that has been going on, not only in flood control. All of the workings within DPWH,” the Chief Executive said.

“(The body) will look at the evidence and look at the information that we have and they will put together that information and make the recommendation to either DOJ or the ombudsman, depending on who is found to be liable for some of these nefarious activities,” he said.

Marcos said more and more irregularities are being uncovered in the course of the investigation, hence the need for intensified efforts to clean up the DPWH.

“Because unfortunately, the more we look, the more we find. Even in the 2026 budget, there were still a lot of insertions. So, it really needs to be cleaned out properly,” the President said, without elaborating.

House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo Puno earlier claimed the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program includes proposed funding for infrastructure projects that have already been completed.

Marcos has accepted the resignation of Bonoan and named transportation secretary Vince Dizon as his replacement. Marcos said Bonoan took command responsibility for the anomalous flood control projects.

Dizon discussed the President’s directives on Monday, hours after taking his oath as DPWH chief at Malacañang.

Dizon said he welcomed the decision of the President to create an independent body to look into the supposed ghost flood control projects, saying “the President is serious to hold these people accountable.”

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President said that members of the panel are “independent” and would not just engage in politicking.

Asked whether Bonoan could also face investigation even after he resigned from his post, Dizon said “the independent commission will investigate everybody.”

“So that is the order of the President. I mean…the people deserve accountability, that’s what the President said,” Dizon noted.

Labor group Federation of Filipino Workers (FFW) welcomed Marcos’ independent body and expressed support for Dizon as the new DPWH chief.

“He is an action man and brings fresh air to the DPWH. FFW supports his reform initiatives and hopes these will restore integrity and efficiency in public works,” FFW president Sonny Matula said.

COA audit

At the same time, Commission on Audit Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba has directed state auditors under the COA’s Performance Audit Office to prioritize the audit of the government’s flood control projects.

Cordoba earlier directed the COA’s Technical Services Office to conduct technical inspections of all ongoing and completed flood control projects in Bulacan implemented from Jan. 1, 2022 to July 31, 2025.

It was earlier revealed that the majority of the ghosts and substandard flood control projects were in Bulacan.

Meanwhile, at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing yesterday, supervising auditor Tracy Ann Sunico said the COA is already finalizing “audit highlights” in connection with the fraud audits earlier conducted by state auditors on flood control projects under the DPWH.

Sunico said the highlight report will contain key findings, including the nature of the fraud schemes, the evidence gathered and several management officials and government contractors who should be held liable.

Sunico said the audit teams assigned in the DPWH have already issued Notices of Disallowance (ND) on several flood control projects on the grounds of technical deficiencies observed by the audit teams and absence or non-submission of disbursement vouchers.

Issuance of an ND legally compels those who will be found liable to return the disallowed amount of disbursed government funds.

Sunico said government officials responsible for the non-submission of disbursement vouchers and other accounts may also be held administratively liable.

Asked by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa on when the COA could possibly file charges against individuals who will be found liable in the audits, Sunico said “this month.”

Sunico said that based on the audits, persons that can be held liable are “management officials of the DPWH as well as the contractors.”

The Blue Ribbon committee, upon the motion of Sen. Joel Villanueva, ruled to subpoena the COA’s audit highlight report upon its completion. — Elizabeth Marcelo, Mayen Jaymalin