The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to face a heavy volume of complaints as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure expands its probe into alleged irregular flood control projects across the country.
ICI Commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson said about 15 people are linked to each suspected ghost project. The commission is currently investigating around 80 projects, all of which he said involve the contractors previously identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as problematic.
Singson said the flood of documents and case files is expected to grow in the coming weeks. He noted that 64 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are deployed to various provinces with questionable flood control projects to gather more evidence.
The Ombudsman earlier filed malversation and graft charges against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, several former Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and executives of Sunwest Construction. The charges stemmed from a P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro that investigators flagged as irregular.
Singson said the ongoing inquiry will likely result in more filings, as each ghost project appears to involve multiple individuals from both government and the private sector. He added that the investigations remain focused on gathering direct evidence tied to each project site.
The commission’s findings are expected to play a key role in the next wave of cases to be forwarded to the Ombudsman.
