PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Friday that he will recommend the filing of criminal charges before the Ombudsman against former Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara, who was found guilty of multiple administrative offenses related to anomalous infrastructure projects.

Dizon made the announcement a day after inspecting the P96.5-million Angat River flood control project in Barangay Sipat in Plaridel, Bulacan, which had been exposed as a “ghost project.”

The project had been listed as being completed in June. Dizon found out that no work had been done, and that the contractor hired laborers just three weeks ago, when anomalies surrounding the building of flood control infrastructure came to light.

“Mga hayop ang gumawa nito, hindi sila tao, para gawin nila ito sa mga kababayan natin. And believe me, itong mga hayop na ito makukulong (Whoever did this to our fellow citizens are animals, not humans. And believe me, these animals will go to jail),” Dizon said.

He also vowed to blacklist Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction Trading and other contractors linked to the ghost and substandard project.

Suspended Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez and construction section chief engineer Jaypee Mendoza were also named as facing administrative sanctions.

In a seven-page ruling on Friday, the DPWH found Alcantara guilty of disloyalty to the Republic, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“This is a warning to DPWH officials responsible for ghost and substandard projects. As the President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) himself has said, we will not allow erring public servants to escape accountability,” Dizon said.

He confirmed that charges will also be recommended against Hernandez, Mendoza and Accountant 3 Juanito Mendoza.

Public Works chief to press criminal charges against Bulacan engineer

Asked about alleged irregularities in Batangas and the possible involvement of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, Dizon said Bonoan is no longer under his jurisdiction.

“It is not up to me who will be absolved or found guilty. That will be the task of the independent commission to be established by the President. My focus is on DPWH employees still in service,” he said.

He added that his office will fully cooperate with the commission, providing all necessary documentation and assistance.

Dizon admitted the scale of corruption within the DPWH is staggering.

“I don’t know who wouldn’t be overwhelmed by this. This has been going on for a long time, not just now. For three nights straight, it has felt like a nightmare. But we have no choice — we must do our job,” he said.

Dizon also confirmed seeking help from legal experts in the preparation of cases.

“Those who profited from ghost and substandard projects will face lifetime disqualification and, if warranted, prosecution,” he warned., This news data comes from:http://redcanaco.com