ICI finds ‘crime scene’ in Davao flood project

During an inspection of the Culaman Bridge flood control project in Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental, an angry Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon cursed upon discovery of the incomplete project.

“F*** you, why did you pay for an incomplete project?” Dizon told Davao Occidental district engineer Rodrigo Larete when asked about the project’s status.

Larete admitted to Dizon that he paid P96.5 million in October 2022 to the revetment’s contractor, St. Timothy Construction Corp. of the controversial Discaya couple, and declared the project complete.

Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who serves as special adviser and investigator of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), inspected the revetment at Culaman Bridge, which residents said was badly needed because of the nearby school.

“Magalong asked if someone constructed there in 2022. The barangay captain and residents said none,” Dizon said at a press conference.

“The mayor then asked when construction starts. They said two to three weeks ago,” the Department of Public Works and Highways chief said. “What does this mean? Ghost project!”

Pointing to the school near the revetment, Dizon asked Larete if “he doesn’t care about the students.”

“I’m thinking about them,” the district engineer replied.

Dizon ordered the suspension of the project, which Magalong likened to a “crime scene,” to allow for a third-party assessment.

Magalong also said the ICI will investigate the role of the Commission on Audit (COA) in paying for an incomplete project.

“Why hasn’t a notice of disallowance been issued in the past three years? Why didn’t COA find out about this?” Magalong said.

Dizon declared that he doesn’t care if not a single district or regional engineer remains in their post.

“Don’t wait for me to discover a ghost project in your district. Come forward and come clean already because the ICI will catch you no matter what,” the DPWH chief warned.

National Bureau of Investigation-South Eastern Mindanao Regional Office Director attorney Arcelito Albao told The STAR that the ghost project was fully paid and funded by the office of Rep. Lorna Bautista-Bandigan.

Albao said NBI’s Public Corruption Division, with the support of the regional office, is investigating the alleged ghost projects in the region.

PNP to assist in case buildup

Apart from ensuring their security, the Philippine National Police will assist members of the ICI in the case buildup against people involved in anomalous infrastructure projects.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday said their primary role is to provide investigative and law enforcement assistance to ICI and its partner agencies. “Through a top-level task group, we will assist in building strong cases against individuals or groups involved in corruption, fraud, or irregularities in infrastructure projects,” he said.

The PNP will also give protective services to witnesses, resource persons and investigators. Nartatez also vowed the PNP’s strong support for the ICI’s mandate to investigate corruption in infrastructure projects.

The PNP, ICI and Integrated Bar of the Philippines forged a multi-sectoral partnership with the goal of strengthening institutional collaboration in safeguarding transparency and accountability in government infrastructure projects.

Former chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday said that President Marcos cannot escape responsibility on the flood control scandal amid allegations of corruption involving billions of pesos.

— Diana Lhyd Suelto, EJ Macababbad, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Rainier Allan Ronda