The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has relieved four district engineers and senior officials from their posts amid separate corruption allegations, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to weed out corrupt personnel across government.
Those removed are Hermon Ines of the Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office and Saidale Mitmug of the Cotabato 3rd District Engineering Office, both facing general corruption claims. Also relieved were Clifton Valencerina, officer-in-charge district engineer of the Apayao 2nd District Engineering Office, for allegedly demanding kickbacks or so-called “SOP payments” on infrastructure projects, and Amron Mitmug of the Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office, who was found to have certified projects that were deemed unimplementable.
Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez confirmed the move, stressing the agency will strictly enforce its existing one-strike policy first put in place under former Secretary Vince Dizon. Under this policy, any official or staff member found involved in questionable dealings faces immediate investigation, no matter their rank or position. Lopez added that no one will be exempted from scrutiny, and the crackdown forms part of broader efforts to raise accountability and restore public trust in the department.
