ILOILO – A watchdog group has filed graft and corruption charges before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City against top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 and a major contractor over alleged irregularities in the awarding of multi-billion-peso infrastructure projects.
Crimes and Corruption Watch International, Inc., through its chairman Dr. Carlomagno Batalla, lodged the complaint on May 22, accusing DPWH-6 officials of violations of multiple laws, including Republic Act (RA) No. 12009 (New Government Procurement Act), RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), and RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
The officials named in the complaint include DPWH-6 regional director Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel; district engineers Robert Palmera, Randolfo Melosantos, Allan Rey Pajimna, Roy Pacanan, and Bernadette Betsy Uy; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson Mary Grace Bulaquina-Hachuela, vice chairperson Marilou Zamora, and members Ormel Santos, Gladwyn Ledesma, Roland Rainier Victorino, and Ricardo Gutierrez.
Also charged was International Builders Corporation (IBC), a contractor.
According to the complaint, IBC was awarded P2.4 billion worth of contracts out of the P9.25 billion total awarded by DPWH-6 in 2024.
“This move underscores our commitment to transparency and accountability in public service. We call on authorities to thoroughly investigate these allegations and take appropriate action to uphold integrity in government dealings,” Batalla stated in a post on his Facebook page. He added that his group will continue to monitor the case and push for justice and good governance.
DPWH-6 REACTION
Reacting to the complaint, Regional Director Oropel expressed surprise that nearly all top-ranking DPWH-6 officials were named respondents.
In an interview with Panay News, Oropel pointed out that this was not the first time such a case was filed. “It is the same case nga gin-file niya kay Asec. Neri, the former DPWH-6 regional director including the BAC of DPWH-6 nga na-dismiss na sang Ombudsman. So the same lang na sia nga mga accusations nga against kay IBC. So, for me wala man kami naga-worry kay wala man kami sala nga nahimu sini,” he said.
Oropel said that should they be required to submit a formal reply, the DPWH-6 is ready.
“We are very optimistic kag nagapati gid kami nga eventually ma-dismiss man lang ni sia tungod nga ang the same nga substance nga gin-file nila kay former regional director or Asec. Neri including the BAC composition sa Region 6 na-dismiss naman to gani,” he added.
He admitted confusion as to why so many district engineers were included in the case.
“Kon ano man ang ila motibo or ila nga plano regarding this, I think sa ila na lang na, answer-ran ta na, wala na sang problema. We are very optimistic about sining kaso kay eventually ma-dismiss man lang ni kay pareho ni sang kaso nga gin-file nila sang una,” said Oropel.
He also clarified that he is not a member of the BAC and has no involvement in the bidding process. “Head ko sang implementing unit but when it comes to bidding wala ko ya sang labot. Wala kami sang role,” he explained.
Furthermore, Oropel defended the BAC’s operations, stressing their transparency. He said bidding processes are conducted publicly and streamed live online, with no contractors being prohibited from participating. “Any action made by BAC is their own action nga wala man labot ang head of the implementing unit,” he reiterated./PN
