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Philippines vows to dismantle graft ring in public works unit

December 11, 2025

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The Straits Times

The Philippines will move to dismantle the “syndicate” that pilfered public funds while ramping up infrastructure spending early in 2026 to revive the economy, according to a key Cabinet official.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will cleanse its ranks to ensure the corruption scandal it is currently embroiled in will not happen again, Secretary Vince Dizon said.

“This syndicate has been here for so long,” he said in a Dec 9 interview. “That’s why it’s very hard to destroy this syndicate - it’s from top to bottom — but we have to do it.”

More than a dozen personnel at the department have been charged or arrested, while former senior agency officials have been recommended for case buildups, he said.

Investigations are ongoing, with Mr Dizon expecting that criminal cases will be filed against a “minimum” of 100 agency officials.

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