Dizon suspects inside job in Pasay pumping station theft

By Maica Razon

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has expressed anger over the theft of a generator set from the Diokno Pumping Station in Pasay City, saying the incident could have been an inside job involving personnel of the private contractor and unscrupulous Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dizon said such incidents really concerned him because pumping stations play a crucial role in mitigating flooding in Metro Manila.

“Yung simpleng pagnakaw nila dun yung perwisyong idudulot noon sa Roxas Boulevard, sa Taft Avenue sa Faura. Talagang pag nahuli yun, ipapalublob ko sa Manila bay yun,” Dizon said.

He acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by many Filipinos, but stressed that government equipment should not be targeted because the facilities helped protect communities from flooding.

“Ito talaga ang ikinagagalit ko. Yung iba nating kababayan, talagang mga sira ulo. Marami namang pwedeng pagkakitaan,” he said.

Dizon said they were looking into the possibility of an inside job involving the contractor or DPWH personnel, noting that security guards had been assigned to the facility.

While the suspects remained at large, the DPWH said it would proceed with repairing the severed cables at the Diokno Pumping Station.

The incident followed an earlier theft at the Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Manila in August.