DPWH Baguio engineer suspended, charged for tampering with documents

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the suspension of and filing of charges against DPWH Baguio district engineer Rene Zarate on Monday, September 22, 2025. — Photo from DPWH/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the suspension and filed an administrative complaint against the district engineer of Baguio City for not cooperating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

In a formal charge dated September 22, Dizon filed a complaint against Baguio City District Engineer Rene Zarate for “refusing to cooperate with the ICI,” which was in violation of an earlier memo of the DPWH chief.

He also received reports of “possible tampering or alteration of public documents” related to DPWH projects at the Baguio City District Engineering Office (BCDEO).

Zarate was named respondent for gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to best interest of service, gross insubordination, and violation of the Reasonable Office Rules and Regulations 2025.

He was placed under preventive suspension of 30 days.

The DPWH gave Zarate three days to answer the formal charge.

Should he fail to submit his answer within the period,

Failure to submit his answer within the period would be considered a waiver of his rights, and the case shall be decided based on available records.

Should he be found guilty of the charge, Zarate may be dismissed from service.

Dizon issued on Sept. 18 a memorandum ordering all central, regional and district offices to submit documents to the ICI as part of the ongoing investigation into flood control and other infrastructure projects.

READ: ICI: DPWH personnel ‘destroying’ flood control project documents

In a statement on Monday, the ICI strongly criticized the “widespread destruction and tampering” of documents related to anomalous flood control projects committed by personnel of the DPWH.

It warned that any attempt to destroy, falsify, or conceal them is a grave offense that carries both administrative and criminal liability.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong  — who is named a special adviser and investigator of the ICI — had filed at least four graft complaints against BCDEO officials, including Zarate, before the Office of Ombudsman.

The fourth graft complaint was filed in February 2023, citing the use of standard materials and improper construction of a bridge from Parapad Village in Barangay North Sanitary Camp going to Magsaysay Avenue.

The P88-million project was completed on Aug. 21, 2019, but was never corrected by the BCDEO officials, causing undue injury to the government. /das