- Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon appointed a team of heavy-hitters to overhaul the corruption-ridden Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
- The team includes retired police generals Arthur βAtoβ V. Bisnar and Charles T. Calima Jr.; lawyers Raffy (Benjamin) Turgano and Rico (Ricardo P.) Bernabe III; and former Clark International Airport president Arrey A. Perez.
- Bisnar has extensive law enforcement experience, including serving as the PNP’s Chief of the Directorial Staff.
- Calima Jr.’s career faced controversy but charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.
- Turgano is a retired Regional Trial Court judge and former president/CEO of the Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC).
Manila, Philippines β In a bold move to tackle corruption allegations, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has enlisted a team of heavy-hitters to overhaul the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to a source, the newly appointed undersecretaries include two retired police generals, two seasoned lawyers, and a former airport CEO. The team faces a daunting task: cleaning up what Dizon has reportedly called the Marcos administrationβs most corruption-ridden agency and submitting a revised budget within a week.
The appointees are retired police generals Arthur βAtoβ V. Bisnar and Charles T. Calima Jr.; lawyers Raffy (Benjamin) Turgano and Rico (Ricardo P.) Bernabe III; and former Clark International Airport president Arrey A. Perez.
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Meet the Enforcers
Arthur Bisnar brings a wealth of experience from his decades in law enforcement. He climbed the ranks to become the Philippine National Policeβs Chief of the Directorial Staff in 2022, after leading the Directorate for Human Resource & Doctrine Development. Bisnar also headed the Quezon City Police District and the PNP Retirement & Benefits Administration Service. Before his stint at DPWH, he served as Administrator of the Office for Transportation Security under the Department of Transportation, starting in March 2025.
Charles Calima Jr. is another retired general whose career includes serving as the PNPβs Director for Intelligence. In 2016, he briefly served as the Bureau of Immigrationβs acting intelligence chief. Calima’s career faced controversy when he was relieved amid the Jack Lam bribery scandal. He maintained that he was running a counter-intelligence operation and turned over β±18 million as evidence. In 2018, the Ombudsman dropped the charges against him due to a lack of probable cause.
Legal Eagles and an Airport Veteran
Raffy Turgano and Rico Bernabe III bring their legal expertise to the DPWH, while Arrey A. Perez’s experience as the former Clark International Airport president adds a unique perspective to the team.
Secretary Dizon’s choice of such a diverse and experienced team signals a serious commitment to reform within the DPWH. The coming weeks will reveal whether this team can deliver on its ambitious mandate and restore public trust in the agency.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon is betting on a powerhouse team to clean up the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), an agency he reportedly believes is riddled with corruption. The newly appointed undersecretaries, a mix of retired generals, seasoned lawyers, and a former airport CEO, face a dual challenge: restoring public trust and slashing the DPWH’s 2026 budget.
As previously reported, the team includes retired police generals Arthur βAtoβ V. Bisnar and Charles T. Calima Jr.; lawyers Raffy (Benjamin) Turgano and Rico (Ricardo P.) Bernabe III; and former Clark International Airport president Arrey A. Perez.
More on the Appointees
Raffy Turgano brings judicial and executive experience to the DPWH. He is a retired Regional Trial Court judge who later became the Acting President/CEO of the state-owned Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Turgano also served as president of Wesleyan University-Philippines and was once publicly interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council for the Ombudsman post.
Rico Bernabe III’s background is deeply rooted in law enforcement oversight. He served as Vice Chairperson & Executive Officer (VCEO) of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), following an earlier term as commissioner.
Arrey A. Perez, a former top executive under tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, has a strong background in infrastructure and finance. Before joining the DPWH, he was the President and CEO of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC). Perez is also a former colleague of Dizon at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), where he played a key role in steering multi-billion-peso infrastructure and real-estate ventures. His career began as a Municipal Chief Accountant of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, and later as a Commission on Audit statement auditor.
Budget Cuts and “Red Flags”
Beyond rebuilding public trust, Secretary Dizon has tasked his team with a specific financial mission: to cut the DPWHβs 2026 budget, particularly flood-control allocations, and to address “red flags” identified by lawmakers. This adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging undertaking.
The composition of Dizon’s team, with its blend of law enforcement, legal, and financial expertise, suggests a comprehensive approach to tackling the issues plaguing the DPWH. Whether they can deliver on their ambitious goals remains to be seen.
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