Malolos probe team finds 52 anomalous flood works
CITY OF MALOLOS—At least 52 anomalous flood control projects were implemented in 30 of 51 barangays in this city by the Bulacan 1st Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2022 up to this year, according to an audit conducted by local officials and residents.
Based on the findings of the Malolos City People’s Audit Team (MCPAT), out of the 106 projects they inspected, only 54 were either completed (27) or ongoing (27). The rest were considered nonexistent or “ghost” projects as they could not be located, while others were either found to have substandard materials, incomplete or with a reduced project scope.
Mayor Christian Natividad, who leads the MCPAT, said they already submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) the 1,800-page “Summary of Flood Control Projects Inspection Report” report that compiled the descriptions, narratives and photos of all 106 flood control projects in the city.
MCPAT, which Natividad created through Executive Order No. 39 on Aug. 29, is composed of the legal and engineering heads of the Malolos City government, along with over 1,000 volunteers, including business leaders, professionals, residents and even law enforcement units. The audit was completed on Oct. 3.
Full support
They were assisted by all 51 barangay captains who, with the help of residents, inspected rivers, irrigation sites and other prospective flood control project locations.
Natividad said that among the contractors for the projects the MCPAT inspected were Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction, which had been blacklisted by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon for their involvement in anomalous flood control structures, mostly in Bulacan.
Natividad said that one of the things that stood out in their audit involved the small coastal barangay of Calero. Despite having only 100 households, there were 13 flood control projects in the area with a combined cost of P1.4 billion.
According to the mayor, he ordered all suspected ghost and incomplete projects to be declared “crime scenes” as he also directed all village officials to ban all construction activities which would just be attempts to cover up suspected anomalies.
“We are expecting that after this, all those behind the projects will face the necessary charges and that this becomes a precedent so that no similar offenses, crime or violations will be committed again. The findings of the people of Malolos through our MCPAT can serve as sworn affidavits in filing the necessary charges as Justice Andres Reyes of the ICI informed us,” said Natividad.
Detained indefinitely
Henry Alcantara, the former head of the DPWH Bulacan 1st Engineering District, along with assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, are currently detained by the Senate after they were cited in contempt for lying during the hearings conducted by the blue ribbon committee.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in an interview on dzBB on Sunday, said that the three, along with private contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, might end up staying in the Senate’s custody until June 2028.
“The Supreme Court decision says that as long as the investigation of Congress, whether Senate or House remains active, we can take into custody those we held in contempt until we adjourn sine die,” he said.
“In other words, if nothing is happening, we will be forced to release them when June 2028 comes, based on the Supreme Court ruling,” he added.
But should a court order their arrest, “of course, that’s another story,” Sotto said.
The three DPWH officials had admitted to conspiring with some lawmakers and private contractors, including Discaya, to siphon off billions of pesos in funding for government infrastructure projects, mostly flood control structures. —WITH REPORT FROM TINA G. SANTOS
