COA recommends graft raps vs 15 -DPWH execs

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December 19, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended the filing of graft, malversation and falsification charges against 15 former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan over more than P330 million worth of “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects in the province.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also recommended the filing of charges against several officials and contractors in central Visayas, also in connection with flood control anomalies.

Augustus Renan Oliva, NBI Region 7 director, yesterday said the bureau submitted its recommendations to the special task force handling the case formed by the Department of Justice.

In four separate fraud audit reports (FARs) transmitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday, the COA said four flagged control projects under Bulacan’s 1st District Engineering Office were all awarded to Wawao Builders.

“The resulting FARs have now been transmitted to the ICI for appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative action, including possible referral to the Office of the Ombudsman,” the COA said.

“The public can expect additional reports to be submitted to the ICI as the agency’s audit investigation on Bulacan flood control projects continues,” it added.

“COA’s Special Audit Team found strong indications that public funds were exposed to possible fraud through non-existent structures, relocated projects, and unsupported claims of 100 percent completion,” the audit body said in a press statement.

Recommended for indictment are district engineer Henry Alcantara, assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Planning and Design chief Ernesto Galang, Construction Section chief Jaypee Mendoza, Maintenance Section officer-in-charge Jaime Hernandez, and engineers Paul Jayson Duya, Jolo Mari Tayao, Lemuel Ephraim Roque, Sheena Bernadette Morales, Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Emelita Ramos, John Michael Ramos, Paycee Nicole Dimaano, Isiah Lor Galang and Mark Lester Castro. The same charges have also been recommended against Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders.

“Based on the audit findings, the individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as for malversation of public funds and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code,” the COA said.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Benguet Rep. Eric Yap is likely the first incumbent congressman to be put behind bars as early as Jan. 10 next year for alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. He also said two senators whom he did not name are also facing arrest, possibly also next month.

“He’ll be the first, I think,” Remulla said in an interview over Bilyonaryo News Channel, citing “a conclusive financial exchange between the accounts” of Yap and contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya indicating a “kickback scheme.”

Remulla said Yap is just one of 20 members of the House of Representatives facing arrest next month.

Meanwhile, the camp of former speaker Martin Romualdez said the ICI had made no recommenda- tion to pin him down for plunder, contrary to claims by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.

In another development, the ICI has yet to hear from former public works chief Manuel Bonoan, who failed to return from abroad last

Wednesday, as he had prom- ised. –  Mark Ernest Villeza, Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Ma- cairan, Emmanuel Tupas