The Office of the Ombudsman has slapped eight personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with a six-month preventive suspension without pay over alleged anomalies linked to flood control projects in Surigao del Norte.
The suspension affects seven engineers and one accountant from the Surigao del Norte 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) and a regional office while administrative proceedings are underway.
“Sufficient grounds exist to impose preventive suspension on Respondents,” the Ombudsman stated in its six-page order.
“Without delving into the merits of the case and based on the evidence submitted by Complainant, the allegations against Respondents appear to be supported by strong evidence at this stage,” it added.
The action follows administrative complaints filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office II for Serious Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
The investigation was triggered after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) flagged several DPWH projects in the district. According to the complaints, the projects were declared finished and fully paid for despite being substantially incomplete, causing significant losses to public funds.
List of Suspended Officials
The officials placed under preventive suspension include:
- Annie S. Dela Vega – DPWH Regional Office XI District Engineer
- Federico J. Gotico III – Engineer III, Surigao del Norte 1st DEO
- Demilyn M. Castrence – Engineer III, Surigao del Norte 1st DEO
- Quintinano C. Armendariz Jr. – Engineer III, Surigao del Norte 1st DEO
- Edward M. Tinio – Engineer III, Surigao del Norte 1st DEO
- Florencio J. Sulana – Engineer II and Acting Chief of Quality Assurance
- Ricky N. Arciga – Engineer II
- Jerome J. Sulapas – Accountant III
The Ombudsman explained that the precautionary measure is designed to prevent the respondents from potentially abusing their positions and authority while the investigation is ongoing.