MANILA, Philippines – Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has formally asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against 10 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and 15 contractors linked to anomalous multibillion-peso flood control projects across Luzon.
The list submitted to the DOJ includes several DPWH regional directors, district engineers, and executives of controversial construction firms, among them companies allegedly tied to the Discaya family. The move comes after weeks of congressional hearings and investigative reports exposing “ghost projects,” overpriced contracts, and incomplete drainage systems that have failed to address worsening floods in Central and Northern Luzon.
Dizon said the request is meant to prevent implicated individuals from leaving the country while ongoing investigations are underway. “The public deserves accountability. We cannot allow those involved in anomalous projects to escape responsibility,” he said.
The anomalous flood control contracts—some reportedly worth over ₱40 billion between 2021 and 2024—were flagged by both the Senate and House of Representatives for duplication, overpricing, and ghost implementation. In several cases, DPWH documents certified projects as “completed” even if field inspections showed otherwise.
Lawmakers have also identified specific districts in Bulacan and Pampanga as hotspots of irregularities. Some contractors linked to sitting local officials allegedly bagged billions of pesos worth of projects despite clear conflict of interest prohibitions.
The DOJ, through its Anti-Corruption Task Force, is expected to review Dizon’s request this week. Once approved, the Bureau of Immigration will immediately place the identified officials and contractors under heightened monitoring.
“This is only the first step. Expect more names as we dig deeper,” Dizon warned.
The Palace earlier directed the DPWH and DOJ to coordinate closely on the probe, saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants “zero tolerance for corruption” in flood control and infrastructure programs.