Another Discaya 'ghost' flood control structure in Davao Occidental
Metro Manila, Philippines - A government contractor called out for multimillion-peso so-called ghost flood control projects in Luzon was found out as well with an incomplete yet fully paid structure in Mindanao – this time awarded during the Duterte administration.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Public Works Department discovered a P96.5-million retaining wall in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental that was marked as completed in October 2022 and fully paid in early 2023, but remains unfinished.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said residents told him construction only began three weeks ago.
He said the project was awarded during the previous administration in 2021 to the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corporation, one of 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that cornered the most number of projects in the last three years.
“Nagsimula na sila magbayad at nag-fully pay sila January 2023. Sinabi niya, aminado siya na hindi pa tapos, partially completed lang daw. Pero ang pangako raw sa kanya ng contractor, bayaran mo na ako ng buo, huwag ka mag-alala, tatapusin ko,” said Dizon in recounting his conversation with the district engineer.
[Translation: They already began paying and they fully paid in January 2023. He said — he admitted that it’s not yet finished, it's only partially completed. But according to him, the contractor promised, 'Just pay me in full now, don’t worry, I’ll finish it.’]
St. Timothy was also responsible for flood control projects earlier flagged by the DPWH in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro.
The company’s beneficial owner, Sarah Discaya, is among the government contractors facing criminal complaints over anomalous infrastructure deals. The Anti-Money Laundering Council has also ordered a freeze on her bank accounts, including the assets of her contractor-husband, Curlee.
Dizon said the government will file new criminal cases against the Discayas’ company for the unfinished Davao Occidental project.
Purge of questionable officials
Meanwhile, Dizon warned district engineers, regional directors, and other public works officials involved in similar deals.
“Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo wala akong pakialam kahit maubos lahat ng DE (district engineer) sa Pilipinas. Kahit maubos lahat ng RD (regional director) sa Pilipinas…kung kailangan na maubos kayong lahat, uubusin namin kayo,” said Dizon, urging agency personnel to come clean.
[Translation: What I’m telling you is, I don’t care even if all the DEs (district engineers) in the Philippines are removed. Even if all the RDs (regional directors) in the Philippines are taken out, if it’s necessary to remove all of you, so be it.]
He added that he will issue show cause and suspension orders against everyone involved in the questionable structure in Davao Occidental – from district engineers down to those who authorized and signed off on payments to the contractor.
In a press briefing, ICI special adviser and Baguio city Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who joined the inspection, said the commission is studying to file cases against the officials involved.
He said possible complaints include graft and corruption, malversation of public funds, and violation to the government procurement law.
“So tuloy tuloy ang imbestigasyon by Monday and Tuesday pwede na kaming magfile ng kaso dito sa contractor and sa personnel ng DPWH. Lahat ng dinaanan ng papel lahat ng dinaanan personality sa DPWH na dapat may kinalaman sa approval ng payment, pati COA (Commission on Audit) siguro iimbestigahan namin,” Magalong said.
[Translation: So the investigation will continue, and by Monday or Tuesday, we can already file a case against the contractor and the personnel from DPWH. Everyone who handled the documents, every person in the DPWH involved in the approval of the payment; even the Commission on Audit, we might investigate as well.]
