Philippine Politics ๐ต๐ญ
Good morning! Weโre here at the DPWH Main Office in Manila to cover the press conference of Secretary Vince Dizon.
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DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon says another set of complaints will be filed against those involved in anomalous projects in Oriental Mindoro
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon will meet with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to discuss the possible freezing and eventual forfeiture of assets of those involved in the flood control scam.
A separate team has been tasked to pursue substandard and ghost projects, including enforcing bonds, warranties, and securities, says Dizon. For structures like flood control projects, the DPWH can hold contractors liable within five years of completion.
The construction firms involved here are Sunwest, St. Timothy, and Elite.
The complaint will be filed on Wednesday, September 17.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon holds a press conference amid flood control mess. Watch the livestream here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV8Va5hWTD8
Dizon says he will also inspect other flood control projects in La Union and Baguio next week.
Last week, Dizon inspected a "ghost project" in Plaridel, Bulacan. Rappler joined the Secretary in that inspection https://www.rappler.com/philippines/recap-video-ghost-flood-control-project-plaridel-bulacan/
House defers consideration of 2026 OVP budget, rescheduled to September 16 The OVP budget deliberations has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 16. It was supposed to be today, Friday, but the OVP designated an assistant secretary to represent VP Sara Duterte. House budget sponsor for OVP Jose Alvarez says it should be the head of agency (VP Sara) or at least an undersecretary, so he advised the OVP not to attend if only an assistant secretary would represent Duterte. Alvarez says he got assurance from VP Sara that she will attend the House budget deliberations next week.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DPWH NEXT WEEK (SEPTEMBER 15 ONWARDS) 1. DPWH will file a complaint vs. those involved in ghost projects in Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, September 17. Among companies involved are Sunwest and Discaya-linked companies St. Timothy and Elite. 2. Dizon will meet with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to discuss the possible freezing and eventual forfeiture of assets of those involved in the flood control scam. No exact date yet. These are based on Dizonโs Friday, September 12 presser Not part of the presser but based on the Committee on Appropriations, DPWH is also scheduled to face the House of budget deliberations Wednesday, September 17.
House defers consideration of 2026 OVP budget, rescheduled to September 16 The OVP budget deliberations has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 16. It was supposed to be today, Friday, but the OVP designated an assistant secretary to represent VP Sara Duterte. House budget sponsor for OVP Jose Alvarez says it should be the head of agency (VP Sara) or at least an undersecretary, so he advised the OVP not to attend if only an assistant secretary would represent Duterte. Alvarez says he got assurance from VP Sara that she will attend the House budget deliberations next week.
ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio insists Duterte should not be given parliamentary courtesy. He also expresses dismay that Duterte isn't present today. "To see is to believe," he adds after Alvarez says Duterte will show up on Tuesday.
Ungab insists that parliamentary courtesy be given to the OVP during committee-level budget deliberations. "Parliamentary courtesy is one of the cherished traditions of the House to strengthen the camaraderie, strengthen the coordination between institutions," he says.
The Caucus of Development NGO Networks, which describes themselves as the "largest network" of civil society organizations, condemns anomalies hounding flood control projects of the government. They make a list of proposals to the Marcos administration, including the convening of a citizen's commission. See their full statement here: 12 September 2025 ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐! ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), the largest network of non-government organizations, peopleโs organizations, and cooperatives in the Philippines, joins the nation in condemning the mismanagement, irregularities, and anomalies plaguing government-funded flood control projects throughout the country โ the worst public scandal since the Pork Barrel Scam. The ongoing investigation on this controversy by the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as recent exposes by media organizations and local government units, unveiled numerous ghost projects, license renting schemes, monopolies by contractors allied or affiliated with certain political personalities, misalignments between project distribution and the actual susceptibility of localities to flooding, and substandard construction.
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(Part 2) As actual lives, property, and public funds are at stake, CODE-NGO calls on the national government to go beyond optics and grandstanding and ensure that heads will roll in their effort to hold perpetrators to account. The network likewise stresses the importance of upholding public transparency, social accountability, and peopleโs participation in public works, a sector that is highly susceptible to corruption, and other projects that are imbued with public interest and consequential to social development. Promoting open governance will ensure that government projects capture public concerns and grievances and respond to the actual needs of vulnerable communities and sectors. With the countryโs flood mitigation strategy needing widespread reforms, the network would like to propose the following to the national government:
These probes also revealed major lapses in stakeholder participation and engagement in local flood management, from inadequate consultations with local government units to the lack of citizen participation in different stages of the project development and management cycles for our flood control projects. On top of these issues, the brazen display of wealth by contractors and lawmakers linked to the said projects, as well as that of their spouses and children, affirm the remorseless corruption at the heart of the controversy.
(Part 3) โข Direct the Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippine Competition Commission, and Anti-Money Laundering Council to aid in investigations against unscrupulous contractors and their patrons in government and engage non-government organizations, peopleโs organizations, cooperatives, and representatives from flood-prone areas in monitoring these efforts, scrutinizing contractors working with government, and developing reforms to strengthen social accountability in the public works sector โข File charges against public officials, contractors, and bank officials and employees found liable for various irregularities in the countryโs flood control projects, and blacklist companies involved in the said anomalies โข Remove flood control projects and other public works projects from the national budget that lack due diligence and proper planning โข Direct the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, Department of Finance, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources to revisit the countryโs flood mitigation and management strategies and ensure the meaningful participation of non-government organizations, peopleโs organizations, cooperatives, and representatives from flood-prone areas in such review, as well as the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of future plans
โข Convene a citizenโs commission comprised of non-government organizations, peopleโs organizations, cooperatives, members of the academe, media, and private sector, representatives from flood-prone areas, and auditors that can initiate a genuinely independent probe on the ongoing flood control projects controversy
(Part 4) โข Develop a comprehensive and evidence-driven flood management framework and masterplan aimed at fostering anticipatory action, long-term community resilience, and environmental protection and conservation We likewise call on foreign investors and international development agencies to suspend funding and support for government infrastructure projects that lack sufficient safeguards against corruption. While the extent and depth of greed seem daunting, it is not a force of nature beyond our control. CODE-NGO asserts that abuse by the powerful can be checked and corrected by the power of the people. History has many warnings for those who refuse to heed the voice of their people. From the People Power uprisings of 1986 and 2001 to the Million People March in 2013, the country has witnessed, time and again, the force of a vigilant people fully aware of its true strength. ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ! ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ! ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ, ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ โ ๐๐๐!
โข Proactively disclose information on the countryโs flood control projects and other public works and strengthen and institutionalize participatory mechanisms, e.g. third-party tripartite (government-business-CSO) monitoring of public works projects, citizens' participatory budgeting and audit, consultation with local development councils before DPWH projects are finalized and implemented, to ensure transparency and accountability in all stages of the project development and management cycles for flood control projects and other types of public infrastructure
Kaufman recently claimed that Rodrigo Duterte is experiencing cognitive decline. Pero last September 9, Roque shared a post quoting Kitty Duterte, who assured the public that there was nothing to worry about.
Ganoon ka bilis magdecline?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18d2g8Jiwy/
It is a tradition that truly and really cherishes Political Patronage. Rep. Ungab cannot fool all the Filipinos. ๐ก
Acting!
*Joint Statement of the SND and CSAFP on National Unity and Upholding the Constitution amidst call for withdrawal of support of the AFP*
At this critical juncture for our national security in the face of threats to our peace and regional stability, politically-motivated attempts to distract the Armed Forces of the Philippines from focusing on its mission are not only futile but also irresponsible.
The Department of National Defense, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is fully committed to upholding the tenets of the Constitution and our mandate to the Filipino people. As a professional and non-partisan organization, the DND and AFP remain steadfast defenders of our nation and our democratic institutions.
We fully support the anti-corruption campaign led by no less than the President as we collectively work towards a responsive, responsible, and just government for all. This is not just a government initiativeโit is a national crusade for good governance, justice, and progress. We owe it to our veterans, our heroes, and to future generations to ensure that the Philippines is firmly grounded in integrity.
We reject all attempts to patronize the AFP by certain groups that insinuate or suggest unconstitutional, unilateral interventions by the former. The AFP abides by the constitution through the Chain of Command.
The strength of our Republic rests on the rule of law and the unity of our people. At this crucial time, we call on every Filipino to place their trust in our democratic institutions, to respect our processes, and to work together in the spirit of patriotism. True and lasting change can only come through peaceful, lawful, and democratic means.
Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
Secretary
Department of National Defense
General Romeo S. Brawner Jr PA
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Statement from DND and AFP, sent to media tonight ^^
Various groups stage a protest against corruption at the EDSA Shrine on Saturday, September 13.
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BREAKING: Malacaรฑang announces the members of the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Saturday, September 13. The chairperson will be announced 'in the coming days,' says Malacaรฑang. Former DPWH secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson, certified public accountant Rosanna A. Fajardo are named as members, while Baguio Mayor Benjie Magalong is designated as ICI special adviser.
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Castro clarifies that Magalong is not a member of the committee but its special adviser.