BIR to probe ghost flood control projects — Lumagui

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will now join the investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects, Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said Wednesday. 

The bureau will look into the status of the projects and the contractors' tax compliance.

“Sisiguraduhin din natin kung tapos na ba, ano na ba ang nangyari patungkol sa tax payments ng projects na ito,” Lumagui said in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice.

(We will verify if they were completed and the status of these projects' tax payments.)

Ghost projects are those for which contractors were paid, but the projects were never started, according to the BIR.

“Para sa amin, 'pag sinabing 'ghost project,' wala naman talagang ginawa. Ibig sabihin walang ginastos patungkol sa proyektong 'yan at binayaran siguro sila, pero walang ginastos sa project na 'yan,” he said.

(For us, when you say 'ghost project,' it really means nothing was done. It means no money was spent on that project, and maybe they were paid, but nothing was actually spent on the project.)

Lumagui said the BIR's investigation will also include coordination with other agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Kung ano man ang magiging resulta ng mga investigations na ginagawa, hihingi rin kami ng mga reports at mga dokumentong na i-submit nila,” he said.

(Whatever the results of the investigations being conducted, we will also request the reports and documents that they will submit.)

This comes a day after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee began its probe into the flood control mess on Tuesday.

During the hearing, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the agency is validating reports of ghost flood control projects in Bulacan worth P5.9 billion.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed that those involved in anomalous flood control projects would be held accountable. 

Last week, Marcos disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget for flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors. –VBL, GMA Integrated News