Palace orders DPWH to probe Taguig slope-protection project after senator flags mismatched geotags

Malacañang has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to conduct a more detailed investigation into a Taguig slope-protection project after Senator Panfilo M. Lacson questioned geotagged photographs in billing records that pointed to Leyte. Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro clari

Malacañang on Monday directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a more detailed investigation into a Taguig infrastructure project, after Senator Panfilo M. Lacson questioned why geotagged photographs attached to its billing records pointed to Leyte.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro clarified that Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon was referring strictly to ten conclusively identified “ghost” projects when he previously told a Senate hearing that no such anomalous projects existed in Taguig. She explained that Mr. Dizon’s statement did not mean that irregularities were entirely ruled out regarding the Taguig slope-protection project.

“If something wrong is being done in the DPWH and friends or allies are being protected, the President will not hesitate to fire the people doing this,” Ms. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino. She added that any cover-up or wrongdoing within executive agencies is definitely and absolutely prejudicial to the government.

Ms. Castro said that DPWH officials are currently investigating whether the mismatched location coordinates resulted from technical errors, administrative missteps, or intentional misrepresentation.