Hontiveros: Suspects in tampered docs reach DPWH ‘top of food chain’

Sen. Risa Hontiveros delivers a privilege speech at the Senate on Thursday, August 28, 2025. — Photo from Senator Risa Hontiveros/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — For Sen. Risa Hontiveros, everyone “all the way to the top of the food chain” at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may be suspects in tampering and destroying of documents related to flood control anomalies.

Hontiveros made the remark during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Tuesday.

The senator asked Justice chief Jesus Crispin Remulla if there are higher officials who ordered such a move, and the latter said it is possible.

“It’s possible that [someone] higher inside the DPWH office [ordered it] as well as everyone mentioned in sworn statements, no one can escape suspicion here—everyone is a suspect once they are here,” Remulla said, partly in Filipino.

In response to such remarks, Hontiveros said: “Everyone is a suspect all the way to the top of the food chain, so to speak, in DPWH.” Remulla agreed with this.

Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation will conduct its probe on the matter.

Hontiveros also asked what would happen in the chain of evidence if there are important documents confirmed to be tampered  or destroyed. “We have to resort to secondary evidence but that is an accepted mode under the rules of court,” Remulla said in response.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday denounced reports of “widespread destruction and tampering” of documents related to anomalous flood control projects committed by DPWH personnel.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the suspension and filed an administrative complaint against the district engineer of Baguio City for not cooperating with the ICI.

Dizon also received reports of “possible tampering or alteration of public documents” related to DPWH projects at the Baguio City District Engineering Office. /jpv