Dizon sacks 2 DPWH execs with alleged contractor ties

December 4, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has removed two officials from the agency – an assistant secretary and a director IV – for having alleged ties with contractors.

The two unnamed officials were brought in by resigned DPWH undersecretary Arrey Perez, whom Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste previously accused of having ties to contractors.

“Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and the entire DPWH expresses its gratitude to Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste for his recommendations in implementing reforms as well as his vigilance in ensuring transparency and accountability across the government,” the DPWH said in a statement yesterday.

“We assure Representative Leviste that the DPWH is one with him in reforming the agency and promoting full transparency and accountability as well as ensuring that infrastructure projects reach the areas of the country that need it the most,” the statement further read.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday, Leviste thanked Dizon for removing the two officials, who are also both allegedly linked to Construction Workers Solidarity party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola.

Leviste estimated that companies connected with Gardiola have been able to secure over P100 billion in projects from the DPWH.

“Secretary Vince did not know these two were contractors initially, and I thank him for acting quickly once an investigation confirmed this. I also thank Secretary Vince for removing undersecretary Perez after he attempted to bring Gardiola to him, and after I heard that if you want extra budget, you can talk to Congressman Gardiola who became close to Usec. Perez from their time in Batangas,” Leviste said.

Leviste said he would not elaborate further on the identities of the removed officials or the details of Perez’s introduction of Gardiola to Dizon.

Focus on Bulacan

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation is focusing its ongoing probe on alleged ghost projects in Bulacan before expanding its inquiry to other people linked to anomalous flood-control projects, NBI officer-in-charge Angelito Magno said yesterday.

Magno said investigators are still prioritizing cases involving the Bulacan projects, which were the first to be filed and are now under evaluation by the Department of Justice.

“There are others, and the investigation continues. But we cannot name them yet until we have enough evidence,” he told ANC.

Magno also confirmed that the Discaya couple, who earlier had more than 40 luxury vehicles confiscated and several bank accounts frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, remain under investigation. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza