5 DPWH workers in hot water for steel ‘theft’

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Two engineers and three other employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here are now in hot water for allegedly stealing and selling steel bars and beams being used in rehabilitating a typhoon-damaged bridge.

Three of the five DPWH employees who are facing criminal and administrative charges were identified as Julito Paltep and Danny Bernabe, both engineers, and Redentor Agbayani, driver and welder. The two others are contractual workers.

DPWH regional director Rodolfo Alday said the three regular department employees, if found guilty, face dismissal from the service.

"This is a big embarrassment for us. We will not tolerate illegal activities like this. Definitely, they will be suspended upon investigation of the administrative charges we will file against them," Alday said.

Police caught Agbayani allegedly in the act of selling steel bars and beams loaded in a DPWH van to a junkshop in nearby Solano town.

Chief Inspector Francisco Palattao, Solano police chief, said they included the two DPWH engineers for allegedly trying to settle the case "amicably" and acquire possession of the seized materials.

Palattao even accused Paltep and Bernabe of threatening his men after they refused to turn over the steels bars and beams to them. The two engineers denied the accusations.