MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enforce the preventive suspension order against five DPWH officials accused of unlawfully disqualifying a company in a public bidding for the construction of storm surge protection. In a letter dated Jan. 2, 2020, and signed by Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan, the Ombudsman ordered Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to explain why the preventive suspension has not been implemented. Ombudsman Samuel Martires approved on May 15, 2019, the six-month preventive suspension order dated Feb. 1, 2019, against the five DPWH officials, who were all then assigned to the DPWH Regional Office VIII in Palo, Leyte. The order stemmed from the complaint filed by Edgar Tiu, proprietor and general manager of B.M. The Ombudsman also warned that its defiance to implement such an order shall be a ground for disciplinary action.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 19, 2020 19:18 UTC