MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has reported to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) four “ghost” flood-control projects in Bulacan province amounting to P325 million that it said showed signs of “systemic misuse of public funds.”
The COA submitted to the ICI four fraud audit reports “exposing rampant irregularities in flood control projects in Bulacan” of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office that were awarded to contractors Wawao Builders and Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading.
Of the four projects, three contracts were awarded to Wawao Builders and one to Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading, it said.
The first project, in Guiguinto, Bulacan, was for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Barangay Santa Cruz with a contract cost of P96.4 million. Auditors found that the structure was not constructed at the location specified in the approved plans as it appeared to have been relocated without authority.
There were also discrepancies between the approved and as-built plans, including a reduction in project length and altered cross-sections, it said.
The COA recommended that former public works engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Planning & Design Section chief Ernesto Galang, Maintenance Section chief Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Maintenance Section OIC Jaime Hernandez, engineers Merg Jaron Laus, John Michael Ramos, Ericka Justine Chico, Isiah Lor Galang and Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders be held liable for the irregularities in the project.
The second project was for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Barangay Iba-Ibayo in Hagonoy, Bulacan for P77.1 million, where auditors did not find any structure at the designated project site despite it being declared 100 percent complete.
It also said the structure identified by the DPWH was located approximately 694 meters away from the approved site and that it lacked any approved revised plans or authority for relocation, so any payment made under the contract was deemed potentially invalid.
Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Construction Section chief Jaypee Mendoza, engineers Lemuel Ephraim SD Roque, Sheena Bernadette Morales, Jolo Mari Tayao, Paul Jayson Duya and Arevalo of Wawao Builders were recommended for prosecution.
The third project was for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Barangay San Jose in Calumpit, Bulacan worth P77.1 million where auditors found several inconsistencies in the location and length of structure.
It said that a structure bearing a different contract identification (ID) marking and the measurements did not match the approved bid and as-built plans, and that it was outside the approved site.
Recommended for prosecution for anomalies in the project were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Duya, Tayao, Mendoza, Roque, Engineer Raymond Ramos and Arevalo of Wawao Builders.
The fourth project, awarded to contractor Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading, had a total contract cost of P74.1 million for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Barangay Babatnin in Malolos City, Bulacan.
The COA, however, said its auditors found that no structure was built at the approved site, while the structure identified by DPWH representatives predated the contract by nearly a year.
Recommended for prosecution for anomalies in the project were Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, Galang, Tayao, Roque, Morales and Darcy Kimel Respecio of Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading.
“The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as for malversation and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code. Violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 are also noted,” the COA said.
DOJ readies Alcantara custody
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is eyeing this week to take custody of Alcantara, who is now a state witness in the probe on corruption in flood control projects.
Justice acting Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department is set to make a formal request for the transfer of Alcantara from the Senate to the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP), but is finalizing operational and security concerns.
“The target is this week,” he told reporters, declining to share more details.
“I don’t want to preempt because there are security concerns. Let’s err on the side of caution. They are critical witnesses. They hold very important pieces of evidence for us to prove our case against the accused,” he added.
Alcantara is currently under Senate custody after being cited in contempt during its inquiry into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
“Remember they are critical witnesses and they have important pieces of evidence for us to prove our case against the accused,” Vida said.
The DOJ official said arrangements would be made should the Senate require Alcantara’s appearance even after his transfer to DOJ custody.
He said making themselves available for any legal purpose is part of their commitment as state witnesses.
Vida said the Senate had earlier signaled its intention to relinquish custody of Alcantara.
“We heard during the Senate hearing that the Senate expressed its intention to let go of the custody of Alcantara,” he said.