Bulacan has around 30 ‘ghost' flood control projects —Lacson
Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson on Wednesday said that Bulacan was the 'most notorious' province when it comes to anomalies in flood control projects, claiming that a 'well-organized syndicate' was behind the scheme.
In his privilege speech, Lacson said that 28 projects in Bulacan are so-called distinct as they are all worth P77 million.
''Distinct' ang mga budget items na makikita sa GAA at awarded contracts na may pare-parehong halaga para sa magkakalapit man o magkakalayo na proyekto. 'Distinct' dahil ayon sa aming mga informants sa loob ng DPWH at kinumpirma ng ilang contractors, 'coded na budget' ito para mayroong pagkakakilanlan ang mga 'may-ari' ng proyekto. Para sa nakakaunawa, ang ibig sabihin po ay 'akin yan,'' the senator said.
He also mentioned former Bulacan first district engineers allegedly linked to such anomalous projects.
'Ayon sa mga contractors at DPWH officials na nakipag-usap mismo sa akin at aking staff, ang dalawang ito ay halos pareho lang ang pagmamahal sa pera,' Lacson
'Mr. President, sa district engineering office na ito, sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng dalawang nabanggit na opisyal, para sa taong 2024, 28 proyekto ang pare-pareho ang pondo kahit magkakaiba ang specs, disenyo at haba,' he added.
Lacson also named several barangays in Malolos and Hagonoy in Bulacan, where two contractors supposedly had ghost flood control projects.
'Ang dapat sa mga ito ay ipinampupukpok sa pagbabaon ng mga sheet piles. Hindi ito kababalaghan, Mr. President. This is well orchestrated by an organized network of people who abuse their power,' Lacson said.
'May isang grupo sa loob ng 1st district engineering office ng Bulacan na kilalang 'sindikato' ng mga substandard at 'ghost' projects. Ang kanilang modus, manghihiram ng lisensya sa mga suki nilang contractors. Gamit ang lisensya ng contractors, sila na ang mag-i-implement ng projects o kung hindi man, magpoproseso ng mga dokumento para lumabas na 'completed' na ang ghost projects,' he added.
Lacson said that his office is 'willing and ready' to provide the names of the members of such a syndicate in Bulacan's 1st district engineering office, including probable witnesses to testify against them.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
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