2 nabbed for posing as DPWH personnel in Davao City

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Tuesday said two female individuals were arrested for allegedly pretending to be Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel in Davao City.

Identified by the CIDG only by the aliases “Chel” and “Cham,” the two suspects had visited the DPWH Davao Region office last Sunday for a purported “surprise and confidential inspection… to assess the damage… caused by the recent earthquake,” the police noted in a statement.

“The suspects introduced themselves as officers and employees of the DPWH Central Office in the National Capital Region,” the CIDG explained.

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“Chel repeatedly claimed to possess higher authority and represented that she could facilitate the immediate release of DPWH funds, including those intended for local government unit projects,” it added.

Afterward, personnel from the DPWH Davao Region-Office of the Regional Director sought clarification from the department’s Maintenance Division about the supposed inspection, leading to a request for police assistance, the police further detailed.

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The DPWH Central Office then certified to the authorities that Chel and Cham were not department personnel.

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DPWH identification cards bearing employee numbers 100001 and 100002 were confiscated from Chel and Cham, according to the CIDG.

The DPWH Central Office further certified that the identification cards presented by Chel and Cham “did not conform to the official format and template issued by the DPWH,” the CIDG further noted.

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It added that Chel had also been in possession of a 24-page document entitled “DPWH Situational Report on Major Roads and Bridges due to Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake, Maasim, Sarangani, June 8, 2026 at 7:37 PM.”

The two arrested suspects were taken into police custody and may face charges for usurpation of authority or official functions, as well as falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents. /cb

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