Baguio District Engineer Zarate gets 30 days suspension, faces dismissal proceedings after ‘tampering’ documents and refusing to cooperate in flood control probe

Baguio City, Philippines – Suspended Baguio District Engineer Rene Zarate is facing dismissal proceedings after he was reported to have tampered flood control documents, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vivencio Dizon.

Dizon earlier directed all central, regional, and district offices to submit documents related to flood control projects over the past three years, and ensure that documents such as bidding/ procurement, contracts, disbursement vouchers, among others, covering the last 10 years are duly preserved and made readily available upon request.

The directive dated September 18 aims to support the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a body tasked to investigate anomalies and misuse of public funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide.

Dizon warned that failure to comply with the memorandum would result in administrative and/or criminal sanctions.

On Monday, September 22, the DPWH Secretary filed an administrative case, formally charging Zarate with gross neglect of duty, gross insubordination, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of office rules and regulations under 2025 Revised Administrative Code of Civil Service.

Dizon also placed Zarate under 30-day preventive suspension after he received reports “regarding tampering and maybe even destruction” of documents in Baguio City District Engineering Office from Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who also serves as ICI’s Special Adviser.

Magalong said he received complaints concerning a mountainside project that he described to be “a road that leads to nowhere.” He brought up the road project to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s attention during his site inspection in Benguet last month.

Magalong said he received information that Zarate tried altering the documents so the project will not appear to have any problems.

“Yung District Engineer na yun kasi, talagang kilala na yun, sa kalokohan. Matagal na yan na kino-complain ko, panahon pa ni [DPWH] Secretary Bonoan… Malakas ang kapit,” the city mayor expressed.

According to Dizon, he already sent personnel to the city for further investigation and to ensure that related documents as well as devices are secured.