It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
The Sandiganbayan has found a former Nueva Ecija town mayor guilty of malversation of PHP3.5 million in public funds, representing unliquidated cash advances dating back to 2006.
In a 31-page decision promulgated on Sept. 2, the anti-graft court sentenced former Laur, Nueva Ecija mayor Blas Canlas to up to 16 years imprisonment.
“The accused, being the accountable officer and the recipient of the cash advances in this case, had the obligation to comply with the COA (Commission on Audit) rules on its liquidation. Furthermore, as head of agency, or the local chief executive of the municipality, he had the responsibility to ensure that the grant, utilization, and liquidation of all cash advances are in accordance with the rules,” the court said.
The court also ordered Canlas to indemnify the local government unit PHP3.5 million with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, and likewise ordered his perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
The case was decided by the Sandiganbayan in 2018, but Canlas elevated the case to the Supreme Court (SC).
The SC set aside the 2018 ruling and remanded the case back to the Sandiganbayan for the continuation of proceedings.
The Sandiganbayan has found a former Nueva Ecija town mayor guilty of malversation of PHP3.5 million in public funds, representing unliquidated cash advances dating back to 2006.
The Sandiganbayan convicted of graft former mayor Lani S. Candolada of Tulunan town in North Cotabato in the irregular payment of P3.73 million mobilization fee for the rehabilitation of a farm to market road project in 2015.
Candolada was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
She was also ordered to indemnify the municipality of P373,997.65 and the Department of Agriculture (DA) of P3,365,978.82 or a total of P3,739,976.47 as actual damages, plus interest rate of six percent per annum.
The case against her stemmed from the release of P3,739,976.47 to Jargon Construction and Supply as mobilization fee for the Rehabilitation of Paraiso-Daig Farm to Market Road Project in Barangay Paraiso-Daig in the municipality even if the project had already been suspended as early as Jan. 29, 2015.
During the trial, Candolada denied the accusation of bad faith and claimed that she honestly believed that Jargon Construction was entitled to the release of the mobilization fee upon the issuance of the notice to proceed.
However, while the anti-graft court agreed that Candolada's actions were not motivated by any corrupt or ill motive, it found that they were characterized by gross inexcusable negligence.
"The core issue lies in the timing of the disbursement, not merely in Jargon's entitlement," the court said.
Jargon Construction received on Jan. 19, 2015 the Notice to Proceed dated Jan. 12, 2015. Four days after receipt of the notice, the firm formally requested the release of the mobilization fee. Pending submission by Jargon of the required bank guarantee, Candolada issued Suspension Order No. 01 dated Jan. 29, 2015.
"It should be noted that the suspension order was issued to facilitate a revision of the project's design parameters, which ultimately led to a substantial increase in the estimated project cost -- a fact of which accused Candolada was fully aware," the court said.
When construction activities are suspended, the court said that it only follows that mobilization fees or any advance payment should not be released.
The anti-graft court said: "Verily, accused Candolada's gross and inexcusable negligence is manifest in her act of releasing the mobilization fee despite the suspension of the project. She should have acted with much caution and exercised greater prudence, especially considering that she had just issued the suspension order to allow for the revision of the project's design parameters, coinciding closely with Jargon's submission of its request for mobilization fees.”
It also said that Candolada's act of signing the disbursement vouchers notwithstanding the project's suspension clearly demonstrates gross inexcusable negligence in the performance of her duties.
The 39-page decision dated Sept. 2, 2025 was written by Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna with the concurrence of Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi and J. Ermin Ernest Louie R. Miguel.
The Sandiganbayan convicted of graft former mayor Lani S. Candolada of Tulunan town in North Cotabato in the irregular payment of P3.73 million mobilization fee for the rehabilitation of a farm to market road project in 2015.
Six police officers were given citation tickets for various traffic violations after the Philippine National Police conducted a surprise inspection of vehicles inside its main headquarters in Quezon City.
In a press briefing on Thursday, the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) which led the surprise check at Camp Crame, said that over 300 vehicles and more than 500 motorcycles were inspected.
The most common violations were failure to present the official receipt (OR) or certificate of registration (CR) for their vehicles and delinquent registrations.
As for the six police officers, HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malamang said their violations included the lack of OR/CR and the improper use of insignias on private vehicles, especially motorcycles.
“The HPG issued citation tickets against the six we caught,” he said. Malamang said the inspection was carried out with other police units to ensure the PNP’s compliance with Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines.
Six police officers were given citation tickets for various traffic violations after the Philippine National Police conducted a surprise inspection of vehicles inside its main headquarters in Quezon City.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has found former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara guilty of irregularities over "ghost" flood control projects in the province.
In a seven-page decision released Friday, Sept. 5, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ruled that Alcantara committed disloyalty to the Republic and the Filipino people, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The ruling stemmed from Alcantara’s admission before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he approved non-existent projects, despite full government payments already made.
“Respondent’s failure to safeguard public interest, resulting in the payment of ‘ghost’ projects, tarnished the image and integrity of DPWH,” the decision read.
Dizon said the ruling was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to hold accountable officials involved in anomalous public works projects.
“This serves as a warning to all DPWH officials and employees responsible for ghost and substandard projects, because, as the President said, we will not allow corrupt government personnel to go unpunished,” Dizon said.
“Following this, we will recommend to the appropriate offices the filing of criminal charges against Engineer Alcantara and other individuals involved to ensure justice for their blatant abuse of public funds,” he added.
Alongside Alcantara, dismissal and criminal proceedings will also be pursued against former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Construction Section Chief Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, and Accountant III Juanito Mendoza of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has found former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara guilty of irregularities over "ghost" flood control projects in the province.
A village councilor in Lanao del Sur province was injured when he traded shots with law enforcers during a drug buy-bust in Bacolod-Kalawi town on Friday, police said.
In a statement on Saturday, Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, speaking for the Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the arrested village official as Anoar Dedaagon Sumbi, 36, councilman of Barangay Sugod, Bacolod-Kalawi.
“Seized from the village official were suspected shabu items worth PHP2.7 million, the buy-bust money, and a pistol,” Ventura said.
His companion, Khalid Gubat, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), escaped after sensing he and the village councilor were dealing with an undercover agent during the buy-bust.
Sumbi opened fire on approaching members of the police’s Special Action Force and provincial drug enforcement unit, triggering a brief firefight. Nobody was hurt among the lawmen.
The village councilor is now in the hospital under police watch while charges are being prepared against him.
A village councilor in Lanao del Sur province was injured when he traded shots with law enforcers during a drug buy-bust in Bacolod-Kalawi town on Friday, police said.
Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II named several congressmen and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials whom he alleged, in his testimony, solicited money from his firm after it won a government project bid.
At the Senate blue ribbon panel’s third hearing on alleged irregularities in flood-control projects on Monday, Discaya identified the following:
Terrence Calatrava, former undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines
Rep. Roman Romulo of Pasig
Rep. Jojo Ang of Uswag Ilonggo Partylist
Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City
Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde of Quezon City
Rep. Nicanor Briones of AGAP Partylist
Rep. Marcy Teodoro of Marikina
Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon
Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr.
Rep. Florencio Noel of An-waray Partylist
Rep. Reynante Arrogancia of Quezon
Rep. Marvin Rillo of Quezon City
Rep. Leody Tarriela
Rep. Teodoro Haresco of Aklan
Rep. Antonieta Eudela of Zamboanga Sibugay
Rep Dean Asistio of Caloocan
Rep. Marivic Co-pilar of Quezon City
“We had no choice because if we didn’t cooperate, they would create problems for the project awarded to us through mutual termination or right-of-way issues, both of which would prevent the project from being implemented. After we won the bidding, some DPWH officials approached us to ask for and take their share of the project amount,” Discaya said.
He said the percentages were given in cash, and each transaction has a voucher and a ledger stating which day the money was received by the other party.
“The percentage they demanded ranged from no less than 10 percent and went up to 25 percent, which became a condition to ensure the contract’s implementation would not be hindered,” he added.
Discaya also said the following DPWH officials are involved in the anomalous bidding process, particularly alleging that these government officials ask for “percentages” in exchange for projects:
Regional Director Eduarte Virgilio of DPWH Region 5
Director Ramon Arriola III of Unified Project Management Offices (UPMO)
District Engineer Henry Alcantara of DPWH Bulacan 1st
Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Metro Manila 1st
District Engineer Manny Bulusan of DPWH North Manila DEO
District Engineer Edgargo Pingol of DPWH Bulacan sub-DEO
District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO
“Most of the DPWH officials mentioned repeatedly stated that the money should be delivered to Zaldy Co, and it should be at least 25 percent. As for Cong. Marvin Rillo, he mentioned several times the name of Speaker Martin Romualdez as his close friend,” Discaya said in Filipino.
The Discaya patriarch bared that Rillo repeatedly claimed that his request for funds came from unprogrammed funds and insertions which were approved by Speaker Romualdez.
In a sworn statement, partners Cezarah and Pacifico also bared that, in some instances, they handed out money to politicians themselves, reiterating that they were forced to pay against their will.
They named these politicians as follows:
Rep. Antonieta Eudela, along with her husband
Rep. Marvin Rillo of Quezon City
Rep. Nikki Briones of AGAP Partylist
Arturo N. Atayde, father of Rep. Arjo Atayde
Rep. Florencio Gabriel “Ben” Noel of An-Waray Partylist
Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon
Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr.
The Discaya couple also insisted that their firms never established any ghost projects, emphasizing that they thoroughly inspect each one.
With this, they underscored their desire to testify and voluntarily serve as a state witness to disclose all “corrupt practices” of some members of the lower chamber, DPWH, and some government officials.
“We are humbly asking the Senate blue ribbon committee and President Bongbong Marcos for the protection and security of our family,” the Discayas said.
Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II named several congressmen and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials whom he alleged, in his testimony, solicited money from his firm after it won a government project bid.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the graft conviction of former general manager Robert Dean Smith Barbers and two other officials of the now-defunct Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) after denying their motions for reconsideration.
Barbers, together with former deputy general manager Edgar T. Bocar and former construction implementation department manager Armando L. Miranda, were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, in a decision issued last June 27.
Barbers was convicted of one count of graft, Miranda of two counts, while Bocar was guilty of all three counts. They were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to eight years for each count of graft.
The cases stemmed from the construction of the P3.7 million sports complex in Intramuros, Manila that was awarded and paid to I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation in 2005 even without approval from the Intramuros Administration (IA).
In his motions for reconsideration, Barbers argued that there was no showing that he was formally informed of the disapproval by the IA of the proposed PTA Sports Complex Project. Without this proof, Barbers said that there can be no conscious criminal design on his part to participate in a supposed conspiracy to cause undue injury to the government.
Bocar, on the other hand, said that he merely relied on the regularity of the performance of the functions and duties of the other government personnel.
For his part, Miranda argued that the engagement of I.A. Bosque Construction for the PTA Sports Complex arose from a legitimate public bidding which was participated in by different contractors.
However, the anti-graft court found their motions bereft of merit.
The court ruled: "After a review of the records of the case and the arguments raised by the parties, the court denies the three motions for reconsideration. The matters raised by the accused, including those raised by Bocar in his belatedly filed supplemental motion for reconsideration, are a mere rehash and repetition of the issues and matters which have already been substantially considered and resolved.”
It pointed out that Barbers' contention that he was not formally informed of the IA's disapproval and Bocar's reliance on the regularity of performance of other government personnel "only bolsters the finding that they were grossly and inexcusably negligent in carrying out their functions."
It stressed that the project would not have pushed through had Miranda not signed the disbursement vouchers (DVs) for the partial payments to I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation.
It added: “In this case, the accused cannot invoke the purported lack of irregularity on the face of the disbursement vouchers that would prompt them to investigate further, precisely because it is the accused's own gross and inexcusable negligent acts and omissions that led to the signing of these vouchers and payment to I.A. Bosque Construction Corporation."
The 17-page resolution was written by Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda with the concurrence of Sixth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Associate Justice Kevin Narce B. Vivero.
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the graft conviction of former general manager Robert Dean Smith Barbers and two other officials of the now-defunct Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) after denying their motions for reconsideration.
Four government workers under the City Engineering Office (CEO), particularly the Supply and Property Section, are in hot water after Mayor Greg Gasataya discovered 4,786 hardened cement bags at the CEO warehouse in Barangay Taculing and another storage facility in Barangay Alijis here over the weekend.
“We will definitely relieve them of their functions effective today,” Gasataya said, as he announced the issuance of a show cause order to these four employees in Monday’s press briefing at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
He said they are assigned to accept and release materials being purchased by the city for the projects.
Gasataya conducted a spot inspection on Saturday, Sept. 6, and discovered 4,686 cement bags from the Bacolod City College (BCC) compound in Barangay Taculing, and 100 more in another warehouse in Barangay Alijis that have solidified and become unusable.
“It could have gone a long way, for building additional classrooms, barangay infrastructure projects, and more,” said Gasataya who expressed disappointment upon discovering the wasted construction materials estimated to be worth P1.1 million.
"This is an insult to the taxpayers. Instead, it became dust, neglected, wasted, and gone," the mayor said, adding that he has ordered a full investigation on the matter. "Heads will roll. This will not be swept under the rug. We cannot and we will not allow this kind of neglect to go unanswered," he added.
Gasataya said that they will assign a new team in the Supply and Property Section while the investigation is ongoing.
“There’s something that needs to be done. This might be painful and there will be resistance, but we will do something out-of-the-box. If this means filing cases, we will do so," he said.
City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos confirmed that some of the cement bags have been stored for several years, dating back to when supplies were moved from the old storage area during the construction of the BCC complex.
“The hardened cement came from the old warehouse, that's why we made it into a bedding for the new cements to avoid damaging the stocks but due to the number of stocks, this happened,” Ceballos said.
Gasataya said that he has ordered Ceballos to explain and submit a written report on the status of all projects being implemented by the city government under the supervision of the CEO within 24 hours.
He added that he has received reports that some projects have yet to be completed since 2022 or earlier.
“We will have an overhaul of the department, considering what we have discovered,” Gasataya said.
Gasataya said that they will follow where the evidence will lead them. “We will wait for the outcome of the investigation of the City Legal Office (CLO) for the appropriate legal action,” the mayor added.
The discovery was a result of the mayor's directive to the newly formed Inventory Team to conduct a comprehensive audit of all government assets, including stocks and supplies under the CEO.
Gasataya said that they will convene a disposal committee to assess and study the legal way of disposing the hardened cement and determine if they can still be used.
He added that he has instructed to prepare or rent a warehouse where they can put the cement bags that can still be used as part of the actual inventory. “We will check if the list provided is similar to the data from the actual inventory,” he said.
Gasataya told department heads during Monday's flag raising ceremony to inform him if there are similar situations to enable the city to address these. “Don’t surprise me and the people about these situations in your offices (if there is),” he said.
To prevent future wastage, the local government has initiated the construction of a P67 million warehouse in the Bredco area, with completion expected within the year. “We will ensure that these things will not happen again in the city,” Gasataya stressed.
Gasataya said that he doesn’t want to pinpoint the possible responsibility of the previous administration and would just follow the flow of the investigation. “This is nothing political, as these are day-to-day obligations and responsibilities that need to be addressed,” he added.
He said that he is in good terms with former Mayor and now Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez. “We are okay, politically, and professionally,” he said.
Four government workers under the City Engineering Office (CEO), particularly the Supply and Property Section, are in hot water after Mayor Greg Gasataya discovered 4,786 hardened cement bags at the CEO warehouse in Barangay Taculing and another storage facility in Barangay Alijis here over the weekend.
The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a barangay chair for soliciting P1 million from a landowner in exchange for his help in evicting those illegally occupying a property in Balintawak, Quezon City.
In a 19-page ruling promulgated on Aug. 29 and made public recently, the CA’s Ninth Division found Barangay Doña Josefa chair Louie Go Muñoz administratively liable for grave misconduct and neglect of duty.
He was ordered dismissed from his post, along with the cancellation of his eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits. He was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office and taking civil service examinations.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Teodora Angeles-Santos before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards against Muñoz.
Santos claimed that Muñoz asked her for P1 million “in exchange for assistance that he would extend in removing the individuals, tenants and businesses illegally occupying” the parcel of land she and her siblings owned in Balintawak, Quezon City.
While Muñoz denied her allegations, the Ombudsman found him administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service on Jan. 23, 2023.
Upon appeal, the Ombudsman ruled that he was guilty only of simple misconduct and imposed a fine equivalent to his salary for six months.
Santos elevated the case to the CA, which ruled that the affirmative declaration of her secretary and personal assistant that Muñoz solicited money from her “prevails over his bare denial.”
“Indeed, it has been repeatedly held that denial is a self-serving negative defense that cannot be given greater weight than the declaration of a credible witness who testified on affirmative matters,” the appellate court said in the ruling penned by Associate Justice Selma Palacio Alaras.
The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a barangay chair for soliciting P1 million from a landowner in exchange for his help in evicting those illegally occupying a property in Balintawak, Quezon City.
Members of the Progressive Youth of La Union filed a graft complaint before the Ombudsman against 2nd District Rep. Dante Garcia for allegedly using “dummy contractors” to reportedly control hundreds of millions worth of government projects.
In a complaint dated September 8 but released to the media on Tuesday, the group represented by an individual referred to as a “John Doe” accused Garcia of possible violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct for Public Officials. They likewise asked the Ombudsman to preventively suspend Garcia while the case is being investigated.
Among the projects mentioned in their complaint were the construction of flood control structures in Barangay Liquicia and Barangay San Fermin in Caba, worth P48.9 million each. Another one is a construction of slope protection works along Naguilian Caba Road worth P241.2 million.
The La Union youth group claimed the projects “suffered infirmities in the processing, bidding, and mandatory processes as they were implemented without observing government protocols and regulations pertaining to government projects.”
“Bidding processes conducted, should there be any, are just mere acts of formality, as even before the actual bidding. The projects were already given to the intended favored contractor or to Garcia’s construction firm,” the group further claimed.
“Evidence of these violations could be secured and verified upon thorough investigation and/or onsite inspection,” it added.
In line with this, the anonymous complainants are seeking to suspend Garcia and the conduct of an in-depth investigation by the anti-graft body into the lawmaker’s involvement in the anomalies projects.
INQUIRER.net reached out to the office of Rep. Garcia, where a staff member said she would relay the message to the lawmaker. However, follow-up calls have since gone unanswered.
Based on reports, Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed last month the appearance of P1.6 billion in funds for flood control projects in La Union, even though it was not listed in the national expenditure program but was included as a 2024 project.
Of the P1.6 billion fund, contracts worth P627 million were awarded to only one contractor.
Members of the Progressive Youth of La Union filed a graft complaint before the Ombudsman against 2nd District Rep. Dante Garcia for allegedly using “dummy contractors” to reportedly control hundreds of millions worth of government projects.
Several district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and three contractors are liable for fraudulent flood control projects in Bulacan worth P342.66 million, according to the Commission on Audit.
COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba yesterday transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman fraud audit reports covering five flood control projects implemented by the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
The reports will aid the ombudsman in its ongoing probe into anomalous infrastructure projects nationwide, the COA said.
“The COA’s findings shall form part of the evidentiary record... and may be used as basis in the determination of administrative and/or criminal liability, including possible charges for graft and corruption, against the persons involved,” they said.
Identified as liable for ghost and substandard flood control projects were 13 former officials of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, namely district engineer Henry Alcantara, assistant district engineer Bryce Ericson Hernandez, project engineers Paul Jayson Duya and Merg Jaron Laus, construction section chief Jaypee Mendoza, planning and design chief Ernesto Galang, maintenance section officer-in-charge chief Lorenzo Pagtalunan, quality assurance chief Norberto Santos, accountant Juanito Mendoza and engineers Jolo Mari Tayao, Lemuel Ephraim Roque, John Michael Ramos and Arjay Domasig.
Executives of three private contractors were found liable, namely Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders, Maria Roma Angeline Rimando and officers and board members of St. Timothy Construction Corp. owned by the Discaya family and Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading.
Covered by the audit reports are the construction of flood mitigation structures in Barangays Frances and Sta. Lucia in Calumpit town, with a total contract cost of P77.199 million and P74.041 million, respectively, both bagged by Wawao Builders.
Rehabilitation of the river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan in Calumpit, with a total contract cost of P96.498 million awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., was also covered by the report.
Another project flagged by the COA was the flood control structure covering Barangays Buguion, Sergio Bayan, Balite, San Marcos and Palimbang, also in Calumpit, with a total contract cost of P39.193 million, awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp.
State auditors also flagged the construction of a reinforced concrete river wall supposedly located in Barangay Piel in Baliuag town, with a total contract price of P55.731 million awarded to SYMS Construction Trading.
In Barangay Frances, inspectors found “shoddy workmanship issues” in a project declared as 100-percent complete, the COA stressed.
“Another key finding was that Wawao Builders was paid an additional P3,130,041.22 without any documentation explaining why costs went up, contrary to the provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Act,” it added.
In Barangay Sta. Lucia, inspectors saw the dike “tilting, misaligned and riddled with cracks.”
The COA said the project was declared almost 90 percent complete, “but auditors could not confirm this onsite.”
In Barangay Bulusan, state auditors found a massive P38.493-million discrepancy in the project cost and evaluated cost.
“Auditors also noted there was a cost increase linked to an undated variation order worth P2,893,365.79, which did not have any details/location in the as-built plan,” they said.
In Barangays Buguion, Sergio Bayan, Balite, San Marcos and Palimbang, the contractor only installed 24,232 kilos of steel plates even though the DPWH paid for 48,465 kilos, resulting in an overpayment of P3.034 million.
In Barangay Piel, auditors said “no construction was found at the site.”
“There is a clear indication that the project has not commenced implementation. Yet, based on records, SYMS Construction Trading has been fully paid as of June 30,” the COA said.
Newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon also transmitted to acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas a separate investigation report by the DPWH Internal Audit Service.
The IAS is “working closely” with the COA fraud audit team in probing other flood control projects, Dizon said.
“There will be more (investigation reports) in the coming days,” he noted.
Accompanied by Dizon at the ombudsman, Cordoba said 20 percent of flood control funds went to Central Luzon, half of which went to Bulacan.
Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral has submitted her courtesy resignation, Dizon said yesterday, but he has not yet accepted it for lack of a replacement.
Cabral allegedly contacted senators and congressmen and solicited budget insertions in the National Expenditure Program of the DPWH, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Dizon said he ordered Cabral to appear before the Senate.
DPWH Central Luzon project engineer Duya will be dismissed due to his involvement in the ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan, Dizon noted.
Several district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and three contractors are liable for fraudulent flood control projects in Bulacan worth P342.66 million, according to the Commission on Audit.
