The Crimes and Corruption Watch International Inc. has filed a complaint against DPWH 7 officials, alleging that they awarded contracts to unqualified firms despite active corruption investigations and poor performance records.
The Crimes and Corruption Watch International Inc. (CCWI), a prominent civil society organization, has formally submitted a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas, targeting six high-ranking officials within the Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) Region 7.
The complaint centers on severe allegations of irregularities, procedural breaches, and potential corruption regarding the awarding of various infrastructure contracts between January and April 2026. Among the individuals named in the filing are OIC Director Simon Arias, along with members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), namely Faustino Dela Cruz Jr., Jerry Evangelio, Brando Ray Raya, Joan Pitogo, and Vince Montrix Calapre.
Carlo Batalla, the head of CCWI, stated that this legal action is a necessary step to ensure that public funds are managed with the highest level of integrity and that the procurement process remains transparent and accountable to the citizens of the Philippines. The core of the accusation involves the frequent use of the Negotiated Procurement - Emergency Cases mechanism to grant contracts to firms with track records of poor performance and project failures.
Specifically, the complaint highlights that companies such as QM Builders, Muaña Construction and Development Corp., and several others were awarded these projects despite having documented histories of negative project slippage. The most alarming detail presented by CCWI involves QM Builders, a firm currently under investigation by national authorities for suspected anomalies related to large-scale flood control projects.
The fact that this company continued to receive government contracts during an active investigation is viewed by the complainants as a significant failure in institutional due diligence and a violation of public trust. Furthermore, the organization raised concerns regarding a major infrastructure project, identified as Contract ID 25H00156, valued at approximately P192.598 million.
This specific contract was awarded to a joint venture consisting of PLD Construction and Development Inc. and TRI4 Construction and Development Corp., both of which have records of previous performance issues. CCWI argues that the BAC failed to conduct proper post-qualification evaluations, which should have excluded these firms based on their past project execution failures and risk profiles. The complaint alleges that the officials neglected their duty to assess the capacity and reliability of contractors, instead bypassing standardized checks.
The situation escalated following a formal inquiry sent by CCWI to the regional office on May 20, 2026. OIC Director Simon Arias responded on May 26 with a letter that CCWI described as vague and entirely unresponsive to their specific queries about contractor eligibility and performance metrics. Compounding the suspicion is a 28-day delay between the official date on the letter and the document's arrival at the CCWI office, which bore a June 23 stamp.
This discrepancy has led the complainants to suggest that the response may have been antedated or that official communication was deliberately obstructed. The complaint formally accuses the officials of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713).
According to Batalla, these actions demonstrate a systemic disregard for procurement guidelines and reflect behavior that is grossly prejudicial to the public interest. The CCWI is now calling for a full investigation by the Ombudsman to uncover the truth behind these contract awards and to ensure that those responsible for bypassing essential vetting procedures are held accountable under the law.
The organization remains committed to its role as a watchdog, emphasizing that such blatant disregard for the rules governing public works projects drains public resources and undermines the country's infrastructure development goals. This ongoing dispute highlights the critical importance of rigorous contractor selection and the need for government agencies to maintain strict adherence to ethical standards to prevent the misuse of taxpayer money.
The Ombudsman's office is expected to review these claims to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges against the accused DPWH 7 personnel
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