“I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”
— English polymath and mathematician Isaac Newton
MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — Billions of pesos in public funds were reportedly lost due to irregularities in the processing and implementation of flood control and mitigation projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Despite these revelations, some officials remain in their positions, even as the current Marcos administration has vowed to rid the government of corruption.
Intrigues within the DPWH have intensified recently, focusing on several officials who remain in the agency allegedly because they belong to the so-called “Cabalen Republic” and share Kapampangan roots with Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon.
Many of these so-called “kabayans” of the public works chief have reportedly received favors and were even promoted despite being implicated in the controversial flood control mess.
DPWH insiders said that after Dizon assumed leadership of the agency, many observed that, following his revamp, several of his provincemates became “untouchable,” enjoying protection and becoming well-entrenched within the organization.
A majority of these officials, reportedly part of the Cabalen Republic, gained immunity from cases and were either retained or promoted in their respective posts.
According to sources, this has caused significant demoralization among the agency’s rank-and-file employees. Instead of correcting a flawed system, it allegedly signaled the continuation of corrupt practices within the DPWH.
Is it true, then, that the message from the Pampanga-born secretary echoes the old political adage once associated with former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada: “Weather-weather lang sa politika”?
There were expectations of reform and an end to wrongdoing when Secretary Dizon took office. However, it now appears to reflect the age-old practice of “ningas cogon.”
And speaking of reforms in the DPWH, why are those allegedly linked to the flood control controversy still in the agency?
One official worth mentioning, sources said, is Assistant Secretary Alex Bote, reportedly a close associate of the late former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral. Instead of being placed under “floating” status, Bote was even promoted to a new position.
From Director for Planning and head of the Public-Private Partnership Service, he was elevated to assistant secretary.
It is surprising to see this development. What circumstances led to his promotion?
And should it be forgotten how Batangas Representative Leandro “Lean” Legarda-Leviste once claimed that Bote gave him access to the computer files of Cabral — the so-called “Controversial Cabral Files” — which allegedly contained the names of lawmakers linked to the flood control controversy?
Just asking…
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