Apayao 2nd DEO OIC relieved over corruption allegations

APAYAO, Philippines – The officer-in-charge of the Apayao 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) was among four district engineers relieved from their posts pending investigation into corruption allegations and questionable project certifications.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez announced on Monday, November 9, that he had signed the relief orders as part of the agency’s internal cleansing campaign against irregularities in infrastructure and flood control projects.

Lopez identified Clifton Valencerina, OIC of Apayao 2nd DEO, along with Hermon Ines of Tarlac 1st DEO and Saidale Mitmug of Cotabato 3rd DEO, as among those relieved over corruption allegations.

Meanwhile, Amron Mitmug, district engineer of Lanao del Norte 2nd DEO, was relieved for certifying 59 proposed projects as feasible for implementation under the 2027 national budget despite questions about their actual viability.

Lopez explained that Mitmug had submitted certificates of implementability for the proposed projects, declaring them feasible and ready for implementation once funding became available.

However, a review of the documents and subsequent field inspections revealed that the projects were not actually feasible for implementation.

“Wala pong problema sa budget basta meron lang pong tamang basehan,” Lopez said before the press.

The DPWH chief said the agency’s anti-corruption campaign, which is aligned with the “one-strike policy” implemented under former Secretary Vince Dizon, would continue. He stressed that personnel would be held accountable immediately upon receiving reports of wrongdoing or allegations of irregularities.

“Tuloy-tuloy lang po yung pananagutan. And this is not merely accountability, what we need right now is swift accountability,” he said.