COA files fraud audit reports of flood control projects in Bulacan

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) on Monday, Sept. 8, filed five fraud audit reports on five flood control projects in Bulacan with the Office of the Ombudsman, which will be the basis of possible criminal and administrative charges against public works officials and private contractors.

In an interview, COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba said his agency’s findings include incomplete and so-called ghost projects, or those paid but inexistent, as well those that were overpaid.

Cordoba submitted the findings to the Ombudsman with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.

The audit reports include two projects from Wawao Builders and St. Timothy Construction Corporation – which are both on the president’s list of the top 15 contractors that cornered the most number of flood control projects.

The COA flagged Wawao’s two incomplete structures in Brgy. Frances and Sta. Lucia in Calumpit, Bulacan, at over P77 million and P74 million, respectively. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier ordered a lifetime ban on the construction firms from taking on government projects.

State auditors also found discrepancies in St. Timothy’s river protection structure in Brgy. Bulusan in Calumpit and an overpayment for a project in five barangays.

Another blacklisted contractor, Syms Construction Trading, was flagged over a “ghost” project in Brgy. Piel, Baliuag Bulacan, worth P55.7 million, which President Bongbong Marcos inspected in August.

Meanwhile, the COA named DPWH officials in Bulacan whom they said should be liable for questionable projects.

Among them were dismissed district engineer Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.

Dizon said the dismissal order against Hernandez and Mendoza will come out in a few days. He added a similar process will be carried out against Paul Jayson Duya, a project engineer tagged in questionable projects in Calumpit.

The DPWH chief warned officials in other provinces who may be involved in the same scheme.

“Kapag kayo eh katulad nina Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, ngayon si Duya, eto rin ang mangyayari sa inyo kung ano ang nangyari sa kanila. ‘Yun ang mangyayari sa ibang nahuli natin,” he said.

[Translation: If you are like Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza and now Duya, you’ll face the same fate. What happened to them will happen to you.]

Dizon also noted that he has so far received over 100 reports of ghost and substandard projects, a week into his new post.

Cordoba said his agency will file their findings on a weekly basis for the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation.