26 more anomalous flood projects probed

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing 26 additional flood control projects, mostly in Mindanao, for alleged irregularities.

A list released by the NBI yesterday showed nine projects being investigated in Southeastern Mindanao, seven in Bulacan and five in Cebu.

Two more alleged irregular flood projects are being looked into by the bureau’s fraud and financial crimes division.

The NBI said its offices in Calabarzon, Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya and Bulacan South are investigating similar flood control anomalies.

The list did not specify the projects that are being assessed.

The flagged projects are apart from the 47 flood infrastructure undertakings in Davao City, which are being scrutinized by the NBI.

Four of the 47 Davao flood projects have been endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman for further investigation.

Aside from these projects, the NBI also listed 17 cases filed before separate investigating panels as well as nine others that are currently being evaluated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Eight of the filed cases – whose respondents included dismissed officials of the Bulacan first district engineering office, former congressman Zaldy Co and former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla – were investigated by the NBI-Bulacan South District Office.

Three cases were jointly probed by the Bulacan South District Office and a special task force of the NBI and the DOJ.

Respondents in these three cases also include Co and Revilla as well as Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)  secretary Manuel Bonoan.

Bonoan has been dropped as a co-accused in the case to become a state witness.

Other flood cases are being handled by the NBI’s investigating units such as the Public Corruption Division and  the Organized and Transnational Crimes Division as well as by district offices in Cebu, Lucena in Quezon province and Cagayan Valley.

6 more DPWH execs, engineers relieved

Six officials and engineers of the DPWH including the assistant chief in Bicol region have been relieved from their posts for alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects in the legislative district of Rep. Paolo Duterte in Davao City.

DPWH-Bicol assistant director Ferdinand Dallo, who used to be assigned at the Davao City district engineering office, was among those relieved along with Davao City 1st DEO officer-in-charge Emilio Sucaldito Jr. and engineers Kristine Apao, Aljun Barcoma, Kim Anthony Duque and Alexander Omadley.

Sucaldito was formerly the assistant district engineer of the Davao City DEO, then under the leadership of Dallo.

Dallo was designated as assistant regional director in Bicol by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon in January.

Dallo’s promotion came amid a supposed cleanup of the DPWH due to controversies in flood control projects.

The relief of the DPWH officials and engineers stemmed from a recommendation of the NBI to charge them in connection with dubious contracts awarded to private contractor Genesis88, which handled the flood control projects in Davao.

On Monday, Dizon relieved four DPWH officials formerly assigned at the Davao DEO.  –  Rainier Allan Ronda