The Office of the Ombudsman should launch a full-scale investigation into the "Davao flood control scandal" as far as Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio is concerned.

This, especially after the massive flooding that inundated residents and their properties the other day.

"Davao residents were hit again by massive flooding the other day, devastating residents and their property. This catastrophe could have been prevented if billions in public funds were not squandered on ghost and questionable flood control projects," Tinio, a deputy minority leader, said on Sunday, July 6.

"I hope that the Ombudsman can fast track its investigation on this and file appropriated charges against the culprits," he said.

It can be recalled that last May, Tinio asked the Ombudsman to probe the Davao and Matina River flood control projects, as it submitted House Resolution (HR) No. 464, documents, and findings on P4.44 billion worth of red flags.

The letter addressed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla urged an immediate investigation into alleged anomalies, and stressed that accountability must be anchored on project-level facts, physical verification, and the responsibility of all public officials and private contractors involved.

"The anger of the Filipino people against corrupt officials is valid. Almost a year has passed since the flood control corruption investigation began, yet only one high-ranking official has been held accountable," Tinio said.

"We are submitting our independent findings and asking the Ombudsman to act decisively—because this is not just about paper anomalies, this is about lives put at risk by unfinished and questionable flood control projects," said the militant solon.

ACT Teachers' review covered 121 flood control projects along the Davao and Matina Rivers from 2019 to 2022.

Tinio said the party-list has red-flagged at least 80 contracts amounting to P4.44 billion due to multiple irregularities, including: total overlap of contracts on identical river sections (P135 million); double funding where the same project appeared twice in the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and was awarded to different contractors (P115M); location changes and shortened project lengths despite near-full payment (P425M); contracts lacking specifications such as station numbers or defined lengths (P3.56B); contracts with no corresponding GAA line item (P623M); and incomplete projects long past expiry dates (P713M), including items tagged "100% complete" while still "On-Going," and one project reportedly only 64% complete after five years.

"These red flags strongly point to possible ghost projects, double payment, illegal expenditures, and systematic shortchanging—enabled by the absence of verifiable specifications. That is why we are urging the Ombudsman to prioritize physical verification along the Davao and Matina rivers and establish clear accountability," Tinio said.

Tinio noted that 49 of the 80 red-flagged contracts were identified as congressional insertions concentrated in Davao City's 1st legislative district, where Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte sits as congressman.

He emphasized that the Ombudsman's probe must determine who initiated, endorsed, approved, implemented, and benefited from these items, and whether procurement and implementation complied with law and public interest.

"The Ombudsman must examine the full chain of accountability—from budget itemization and approvals to bidding, implementation, inspection, and payment—because this involves billions in public funds and flood control projects that directly impact public safety," Tinio said.

Tinio prodded the Ombudsman to give priority attention to incomplete projects and those tagged "100% complete" but still marked "On-Going".

He noted that unfinished flood control infrastructure leaves residents vulnerable to deadly flooding and may constitute criminal negligence if public funds were released despite non-completion.

"This probe must produce results. The public deserves accountability, and Davao residents deserve flood control that actually protects them—not paper projects and suspicious contracts," said the ranking House member.

Tinio also added that HR No. 464 and its supporting documents were first submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) last December, but were not probed.