President Rodrigo Duterte has warned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials involved in “ghost projects.”
According to Duterte, ghost projects are the most frequent form of corruption in the agency.
“Ang DPWH ang pinakaraket diyan is yung ghost projects. So walang delivery, ghost projects. It’s the regional director. Ipapalabas nila na may project ito but wala. So the best way is to conduct an audit of those projects to determine if they are ghost projects or not. And I think there are plenty,” Duterte said in his public address Thursday night.
He also said that many would be fired from the DPWH due to corruption.
“And I dare say na ang pinakamarami sigurong matanggal is from DPWH. I really intend to clean government. At least kung hindi ko kaya, ma-menos menosan ang kurakot sa gobyerno. Yan na lang ang konsuwelo ng tao na mahuli at mapreso,” said Duterte.
The president also reiterated his desire to clean up corrupt government officials.
“I would like to remind everybody sa DPWH who has had a participation there, being an investigator or connected in the construction, you better, you report to me,” the President said.
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Duterte warns officials tagged in DPWH’s ‘ghost projects’
“Kayong may kasalanan diyan, sa mga ganoon, I advise you to resign now. Resign now kasi pagdating ng panahon, I will throw the book at you, even the kitchen sink, at saka makita ninyo, you will be prosecuted administratively, and even criminally, at walang patawaran dito. This is not the time for condonation,” he added.
The President also read the list of names of government officials who have been charged and removed from office by the Ombudsman.
Both employees and officials of the Bureau of Customs face serious misconduct and gross neglect of duty charges.
According to the President, three more Customs employees are being investigated, while 2 other employees of Philippine Health Insurance Corp have been suspended due to allegations of corruption.
The Department of Justice leads the mega task force that would conduct a government-wide corruption following the orders of President Duterte.