Marcos ‘very angry’ over P55-M ‘ghost’ river wall project in Bulacan – Full video below
• President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed his "very angry" reaction after discovering a P55-million flood control project in Baliuag, Bulacan, was a "ghost" project
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• The project, a 220-meter river wall, was officially listed as 100% complete and fully paid for, but the president found no signs of construction during his inspection
• The government is considering filing economic sabotage charges against the contractors and individuals involved in the fraudulent scheme
• Marcos revealed the tip about the fraudulent project came from the public through his "Sumbong sa Pangulo" website, a platform for citizens to report government malpractices
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed intense outrage over the discovery of a non-existent flood control project in Bulacan that was officially recorded as "completed" and fully paid for.
Source: Instagram
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The president's strong reaction came after he personally inspected the site of the supposed P55.7-million river wall, only to find no evidence of construction.
The project, a 220-meter reinforced concrete river wall in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, was contracted to Syms Construction Trading with a scheduled start date in February.
However, despite being marked as 100% complete as of June, Marcos found the area devoid of any construction, equipment, or even basic building materials.
Visibly angered by the discovery, President Marcos told reporters he was "more than disappointed," stating, "I'm actually I'm getting very angry with what's happening here."
He emphasized that the funds for such projects could have been used to solve the persistent flooding issues in the province and improve critical infrastructure like irrigation systems and water supply.
"The government could have saved on debt had the funds for flood control projects been properly used," Marcos said, highlighting the serious financial implications of the fraud.
In response to the egregious anomaly, the President announced that his administration is exploring the possibility of filing economic sabotage charges against the contractors and government officials involved.
He described the incident as a "perfect example of the abuse" being committed and stated that the government would not rest until justice is served.
Marcos also revealed that the tip about the fraudulent project came through his recently launched "Sumbong sa Pangulo" (Complaint to the President) website, an online portal for citizens to report government malpractices.
The revelation in Bulacan comes amidst a broader investigation into anomalous flood mitigation projects.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already admitted to the existence of "ghost" flood control projects and has vowed to conduct a thorough probe.
During a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, it was disclosed that there are approximately P5.9 billion worth of questionable flood control projects in Bulacan alone.
This is not an isolated incident for the province, which has topped the list of areas with the most flood control projects since 2022.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has also launched a special fraud audit of flood control projects in Bulacan, securing crucial documents to aid their investigation.
The case of the non-existent P55-million river wall underscores the deep-seated issues of corruption and accountability within the public works sector and serves as a rallying point for the government's renewed anti-graft campaign.
News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories that people could easily understand and relate in their lives.
In other news, COMELEC Chairman George Garcia was a victim of a "salisi" theft at a restaurant in Pasay City on Tuesday. The theft, involving six suspects, occurred at a restaurant shortly after Garcia attended a Senate hearing. Police have identified three of the suspects by their aliases: "Romson," "Alberto," and "Jun," based on CCTV footage. Garcia's bodyguards attempted to chase the culprits, who are believed to be part of a notorious "salisi" gang known for similar incidents.
Still in other news, police authorities have confirmed robbery was not the main motive in the killing of two Japanese nationals in Manila. Brothers Abel and Albert Manabat were arrested, with Abel as the “tour guide” and Albert as the gunman. Suspects admitted they were contracted by a Japanese national for ₱9 million but only received ₱10,000 as down payment. Mayor Isko Moreno praised the quick police action but acknowledged the crime may alarm foreign visitors and investors.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
