NBI to file charges against contractor, 12 DPWH-Davao execs for anomalous flood control projects
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 7 January) – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Davao has recommended the filing of charges against the contractor and 12 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao in connection with an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Davao City.
In an interview at the sidelines of the Davao Peace and Security Press Conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, Elias Leano, spokesperson for NBI-Davao, said the recommendation to file charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, was submitted last month to the special task group of the Department of Justice investigating anomalous flood control projects.
He said that, based on their investigation, the flood control project at La Verna Hills Subdivision in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City was substandard and failed to meet the required specifications.
Leano said the community surrounding the project site is in what is considered a catch basin, hence the flooding during heavy rains. He said the area continues to get flooded even with the construction of infrastructure designed to prevent flooding.
But Leano declined to disclose the names of the contractor or the officials involve although he said the list includes officials from both the agency’s regional office and the district engineering office in Davao City.
MindaNews sought information on the officials involved from Dean Ortiz, Public Affairs and Information Officer of DPWH-Davao, but Ortiz declined to provide details.
“I’m sorry I can’t comment on those issues. I can’t be of help,” he said.
MindaNews checked the DPWH website for any flood control project in La Verna and found the construction of phase 2 of retarding basin project worth P52,544,216.30, awarded to Rely Construction & Supply Inc., covering the period from May 16, 2024 to February 22, 2025.
Similar projects were also awarded to Rely Construction & Supply Inc. on April 20, 2023, worth P11.290 million, and another worth P49 million on June 17, 2021.
The DPWH website also listed a flood control mitigation project worth P67.550 million awarded to Rakki Corporation and Rely Construction & Supply Inc. on December 16, 2020.
Leano said the DOJ will still have to review the recommendation and, if the agency gives merit, charges for violations of R.A 3019 will be filed against those involved in the anomalous flood control project.
Leo XL Fuentes, convenor of the Stand Opposition to Plunder or STOP Corruption Alliance, reported that Rely Construction received 71 projects in the region with a total value of P4.1 billion from 2016 to 2025.
“We hope for more cases to be filed, especially those in the higher echelons of the bureaucracy that are involved in corruption,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
No comments:
Post a Comment