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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider COA submits to ICI 4 more fraud audit reports on P344.3-M 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

COA submits to ICI 4 more fraud audit reports on P344.3-M 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

Published Nov 12, 2025 12:27 pm  |  Updated Nov 12, 2025 01:46 pm
The Commission on Audit (COA) filed with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday, Nov. 12, four more fraud audit reports (FARs) involving P344.35 million “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.
The projects, the COA said, were contracted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (BDEO).
It recommended that those involved in the “ghost” projects be charged criminally with graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents.
It said the first project, undertaken by SYMS Construction Trading, involved the construction of riverbank protection structure at Barangay San Roque (Purok 2) in Baliuag, Bulacan for P74,150,493.29.
The COA said that the DPWH-BDEO led state auditors to a different location where there was already an existing structure and that the actual approved location had no flood control structure at all.
It recommended the filing of charges against Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, Construction Section Chief Jaypee D. Mendoza, Engineer John Michael E. Ramos, Engineer Ronalie S. Pagtalunan, Engineer Prince Earl P. Deocampo, Engineer Irene D. Ontingco, and Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction.
The second project was the riverbank protection structure at Barangay San Roque in Baliuag, Bulacan contracted by M3 Konstract Corporation for P96,499,563.20. Also, COA said its auditors were led to a different construction site that bore several defects and cracks.
Recommended for criminal charges were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Mendoza, Ramos, Deocampo, Ontingco, Engineer Jefferson S. Buendia, and Louis Raphael DG. Tiqui and the officers and members of M3 Konstract Corporation.
The third project was the construction of riverbank protection structure at Balagtas River, Barangay Santol, Balagtas, Bulacan for P96,499,536.28 awarded to Elite General Contractor & Development Corporation.
The COA said that satellite images showed that there was already an existing riverbank protection structure built at the approved project site 22 days after the award of the project.
It recommended the prosecution of Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Ramos, Ongtingco, Maintenance Section OIC Jaime R. Hernandez, Quality Assurance Section Chief Norberto L. Santos, Engineer Michelle G. Cruz, Engineer Jasmine Jean I. Gonzaga, and Maritoni P. Melgarito as well as the officers and members of Elite General Contractor.
The fourth project awarded to Wawao Builders involved the construction of riverbank protection structure at Barangay Caingin in Malolos City, Bulacan for P77,199,942.76.
The COA said the structure spanning 55 meters long at the approved location was 148.8 meters short of the agreed length in the contract. Despite this flaw, it said the project was still tagged as 100 percent complete.
Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Mendoza, Ramos, Engineer Jolo Marl V. Tayao, Engineer Paul Jayson F. Duya, Engineer Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, and Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao builders were recommended for prosecution.
"These new filings are part of COA's continuing efforts to hold erring officials and contractors accountable for the misuse of public funds," it said in its report.
These recent reports formed part of the 29 total FARs already submitted by the COA to investigating bodies to the ICI and the Office of the Ombudsman, it also said.
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