Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon refuted claims that the wife of former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez was employed at the Quezon City office that was recently gutted by fire.
In an interview, Dizon said the report had already reached their office, prompting them to immediately verify the information.
“Narinig ko rin ‘yong report na ‘yan at ni-verify din namin agad,” he said.
According to the DPWH chief, the circulating rumors were incorrect, explaining that Hernandez’s former wife actually works in another building nearby.
“Mali ‘yong building na tinutukoy nila. ‘Yong dating asawa ni Brice Hernandez ay nagtatrabaho sa building ng Region IV-B,” Dizon clarified.
He further explained that the said building is close to, but separate from, the DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards, which was the one affected by the October 22 blaze.
“‘Yan po ay building na malapit-lapit doon sa nasunog na building na Bureau of Research Standards. Hindi po ‘yong building na ‘yon,” he added.
The fire, which shocked the public earlier this month, destroyed parts of the bureau’s facility in Quezon City. The DPWH has since clarified that no documents related to flood-control projects were affected by the incident.