Gabriela Women’s Party slammed reports that newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has stacked the agency’s leadership with retired generals and security officials, calling it a “militarist whitewash” that reeks of cover-up, not cleanup.
“It’s a shame that Dizon’s reported “cleanup crew” is packed with retired military and police with tainted reputations. Lumalabas na hindi ito cleanup—mukhang cover-up ito,” said former Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas.
Among those reported to join DPWH’s leadership is retired police general Charles Calima Jr., who was once implicated in the Jack Lam bribery scandal during his stint as Bureau of Immigration intelligence chief; Arthur “Ato” Bisnar, a former Quezon City Police District director; and Ricardo Bernabe III, former vice chairperson of the National Police Commission.
Brosas warned that this mirrors the Duterte-era tactic of installing ex-generals in civilian posts under the guise of reform.
“What we are seeing in Marcos Jr.’s DPWH is the same failed playbook—installing fascist generals in civilian offices to project control while shielding systemic corruption. We’re not buying it,” she stressed.
Gabriela Women’s Party warned that militarizing DPWH won’t fix the billions lost to anomalous flood control projects and substandard infrastructure.
“The Filipino people, especially women and children who suffer most in every disaster, need transparency, prosecution of corrupt officials and contractors, and people-centered solutions—not another command post for militarists,” Brosas concluded. (RRN)
