The Commission on Audit (COA) has submitted its fourth fraud audit report to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
In the report, COA flagged four flood control projects in Bulacan worth a total of ₱330.05 million.
The audit uncovered the presence of “ghost” structures, unauthorized changes in project locations, and questionable documentation in the identified projects.
COA recommended the filing of charges for graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents against several personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, as well as the contractor Wawao Builders.
Those named in the report include DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, Jaypee Mendoza, Paul Duya, Jolo Tayao, Lemuel Roque, Sheena Morales, Jaime Hernandez, Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Emelita Morales, Paycee Dimaano, Isiah Galang, and Mark Castro. Also implicated are Wawao Builders representatives Mark Arevalo and John Ramos.
According to COA, those involved may also be held liable for procurement and infrastructure violations, as well as for failure to comply with guidelines on documentation and project monitoring.
(PHOTO COURTESY: SENATE)
