A formal agreement between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and an anti-corruption watchdog has been declared “invalid” by Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, a move the group alleges was an act of retaliation after it filed graft cases against top officials.
The controversy centers on a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on May 3, 2021, between the DPWH and Crimes and Corruption Watch International, Inc. (CCWI). The MOA formalized the group’s role as an official civil society observer in government procurement and post-project evaluation processes, a key part of the government’s transparency agenda.
New Allegation: Cancellation Followed Graft Complaints
In a significant update, CCWI Chairman Carlo M. Batalla revealed in a Facebook post on October 13, 2025, that the MOA was canceled just after his organization filed “multiple cases alleging violations of the procurement law (RA 9184) against [Secretary Bonoan] and several DPWH officials at the Office of the Ombudsman.”
This directly links the invalidation of the agreement to the watchdog’s legal actions against the department, framing it not as an administrative decision but as a potential retaliatory measure.
Batalla further reported that “most of these cases were dismissed, with only a few possibly remaining for refiling.” Despite this legal setback, he emphasized the “ongoing need for robust oversight” amid “broader push for reform in the agency in light of ongoing corruption concerns.”
The DPWH Memorandum: A Sudden Invalidation
The decision was formalized in a Memorandum dated March 22, 2023, issued by Secretary Bonoan and disseminated to all DPWH undersecretaries, regional directors, and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members nationwide.
The one-page directive states that, following a “comprehensive study” and a recommendation from a CSO Task Force, the MOA was found to be invalid. It orders all DPWH offices to “refrain from honoring” the agreement, effectively stripping CCWI of its formal oversight powers as defined in the 2021 pact.
The memorandum clarifies that the invalidation is “without prejudice to the accreditation of CCWI as a CSO observer,” meaning the group can still participate in procurement monitoring under the general guidelines of Department Order No. 186, Series of 2022. However, the specific, detailed responsibilities and coordination mechanisms outlined in the 2021 MOA are no longer in effect.
CCWI’s Fiery Rebuttal: A “Whimsical” Act Protecting the Corrupt
In an earlier press statement dated April 9, 2023, Batalla had launched a scathing critique of Secretary Bonoan’s decision, though he had not yet explicitly revealed the filed cases.
He claimed the declaration had caused “jubilation verging on euphoria” within the DPWH, particularly among officials and staff who were facing administrative and criminal charges. He described Bonoan’s action as “whimsical, capricious, and indefensible,” accusing him of invalidating a “laudable act of his predecessor” and yielding to the “importunings of the corrupt.”
The CCWI head argued that the MOA was “not just any contract,” but one “imbued with public interest” and rooted in constitutional principles of transparency.
Implications: A Setback for Oversight
The dissolution of this specific agreement, now coupled with allegations of being a retaliatory act, represents a significant setback for structured civil society oversight. While the DPWH maintains that CCWI can still operate as a general accredited observer, the group contends that the invalidation of the MOA was a direct consequence of its aggressive anti-corruption stance and has weakened its ability to hold the department accountable.
The situation underscores the intense challenges faced by watchdog groups in their advocacy. Batalla’s recent statement concludes with a reaffirmation of his commitment “to supporting efforts that strengthen integrity in our public institutions,” signaling that the conflict between the watchdog and the department is far from over.#
