Duterte tells corrupt DPWH personnel: Resign now and face charges

MANILA, Philippines — Resign now and face prosecution. This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s unsolicited advice to personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who are engaged in corrupt practices.

In a meeting with members of the Cabinet on Thursday night, Duterte bared that “partial delivery” and “ghost projects” are among the most common corrupt practices hounding infrastructure projects of the DPWH.

“Kayong may kasalanan diyan [You are at fault in this], I advise you to resign now. Resign now. Kasi pagdating ng panahon [Because when the time comes] I will throw the book at you,” Duterte said.

“Saka makita ninyo [You’ll going to see], you will be prosecuted administratively, criminally at walang patawaran dito [you will never be forgiven]. This is not the time for condonation,” he added.

Duterte also ordered an audit of DPWH projects to weed out the so-called “ghost projects.”

“The best way is to conduct an audit of those projects to determine if they are ghost projects or not, and I think they are plenty and I dare say ang pinakamarami sigurong matanggal [majority of those who will be removed] would be from DPWH,” he said.

The President has been training his guns at the alleged “rampant” corruption in the DPWH but he has since cleared Public Works Secretary Mark Villar of any wrongdoing, saying that the official does not need to pocket government funds as he is already rich.

Duterte even ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to lead a mega task force to probe corruption in all government agencies, with a special focus on the DPWH.

JPV