MANILA, Philippines – Sinita ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang nasa ₱359 milyon halaga ng mga substandard flood control projects sa Bulacan, ayon sa fraud audit report na isinumite sa Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Sa ulat na may petsang Oktubre 10, tinukoy ng COA ang apat na proyekto na hindi pumasa sa pamantayan:
Riverbank Protection Structure sa Brgy. San Roque, Baliuag, Bulacan (₱96.5M) – M3 Konstract Corporation
Flood Control Structure (Revetment) sa Purok 3–4, Brgy. Manatal, Pandi, Bulacan (₱92.5M) – SYMS Construction and Trading
Riverbank Protection Structure sa Balagtas River, Brgy. San Juan (Purok 4), Balagtas, Bulacan (₱74.1M) – SYMS Construction and Trading
Riverbank Protection Structure sa Balagtas River, Brgy. Dalig, Balagtas, Bulacan (₱96.5M) – Amethyst Horizon Builders and Gen. Contractor and Development Corp.
Ayon sa COA, natuklasang ang mga proyekto ay itinayo sa maling lokasyon, may mga bitak o depekto, hindi natapos, kulang sa dokumento, hindi tumugma sa disenyo, at gumamit ng di-akmang materyales.
“Those found liable include former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan first District Engineer Henry Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Engineer Irene Ontingco, Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, Planning and Design Chief Ernesto Galang, Engineer Jefferson Buendia, Engineer Prince Earl Deocampo, Engineer John Michael Ramos, Louis Raphael DG. Tiqui of M3 Konstract Corporation, Engineer Michelle Cruz, Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Engineer Jasmine Jean Gonzaga, Rochelle Campos of Amethyst Horizon Builders and Gen. Contractor and Development Corp. as well as the company’s officers and members of its board.
“The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation, and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act,” sinabi ng COA.
Posibleng maharap sila sa mga kasong graft and corruption, malversation, at falsification of documents, bukod pa sa paglabag sa COA Circular No. 2009-001 at sa Government Procurement Reform Act, ayon sa ulat.
Nilinaw ng COA na hindi pa pinal ang listahan ng mga responsable at maaari pang madagdagan habang nagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon. Ang mga natuklasan ng ahensya ay magiging mahalagang bahagi ng imbestigasyon ng ICI sa mga iregularidad sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno. RNT/JGC
