ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio on Tuesday formally requested the Office of the Ombudsman to look into at least ₱4.44 billion worth of flood control projects in Davao City, citing an independent investigation that allegedly uncovered systemic irregularities.
In a letter sent to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Tinio revealed that his party-list group conducted a comprehensive review of 121 flood control initiatives implemented along the Davao and Matina rivers from 2019 to 2022. The review reportedly flagged at least 80 contracts for containing highly questionable transactions and procedural anomalies.
The progressive lawmaker stressed the urgency of holding accountable those individuals involved in the multi-billion-peso projects.
“Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot,” Tinio said in the May 19 letter.
(“Everyone involved must be held accountable.”)
“The anger of the Filipino people against corrupt officials is valid. Almost a year have passed since the flood control corruption investigation began, yet no high-ranking official has been held accountable,” he added.
According to the complaint, the alleged anomalies run a wide gamut of standard violations, including overlapping contracts, double funding, unauthorized changes in project locations, and structural designs completely lacking specifications. The party-list also flagged several contracts that supposedly lacked authorization under the General Appropriations Act, alongside unfinished tasks and suspected congressional insertions.
Furthermore, the documentation submitted to the Ombudsman highlighted severe red flags involving alleged “ghost projects” or double payments. Tinio pointed out that multiple structures were reportedly erected in areas far different from their approved locations, while other contracts deliberately omitted defined station numbers or project lengths.
The party-list explicitly noted that 49 of the 80 contested contracts were suspected congressional insertions heavily concentrated within the 1st Legislative District of Davao City.
Tinio strongly urged the anti-graft body to dispatch teams for actual physical inspections, particularly targeting projects that were already declared “100% complete” on paper but remain structurally unfinished on the ground.
“We respectfully urge the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough investigation of these flood control projects, with priority attention to physical verification of incomplete and ‘100% complete but On-Going’ projects,” he said.
“These incomplete flood control structures leave Davao City residents vulnerable to deadly flooding. The failure to deliver critical infrastructure—while contractors and officials potentially profit—may constitute criminal negligence,” he added.
The party-list leader also turned his spotlight on the private firms involved, naming Genesis88 Construction Inc. as the contractor with the highest volume of flagged projects. The company reportedly secured 10 contracts valued at ₱713 million.
“The top contractor, Genesis88 Construction Inc., received 10 contracts worth ₱713 million and has documented ties to the previous administration,” Tinio said.
“The top five contractors alone account for 53% of all red-flagged contract values,” he added.