Marcos: Baliwag flood project contractor to be blacklisted, face charges

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said SYMS Construction Trading, the firm involved in an alleged ghost flood project in Baliwag, Bulacan, would be blacklisted from the government's roster of contractors.

"Ang SYMS Construction Trading ay agad na iba-blacklist at haharap sa mga kaso sa ilalim ng Revised Penal Code at RA 3019. Hahanapin at sisiyasatin pa natin ang iba pa nilang proyekto," Marcos said. 

(SYMS Construction Trading will be immediately blacklisted and will face charges under the Revised Penal Code and the RA 3019. We will also scrutinize their other projects.) 

Marcos also assured that those involved in the alleged anomalous project in Barangay Piel in Baliwag would be suspended and slapped with anti-graft and malversation of public funds charges. 

"Hindi natin palalampasin ito. Sususpendihin at kakasuhan ang lahat ng opisyal na nag-authorize at nakipagsabwatan dito ng paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents," he said. 

(We will not let this pass. The officials involved will be suspended and will face charges for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents.) 

GMA News Online has requested comment from SYMS Construction Trading regarding the President's statements, but the company has yet to respond as of posting time.

Earlier in the day, Marcos said the Barangay Piel project was an example of falsification of documents because as per records, it was finished. However, when Marcos inspected it, he learned that it was not even completed. 

The President said he was very angry with such flood control projects. 

Marcos had disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors.

The total number of the flood control projects was 9,855. Marcos earlier said a total of 6,021 projects were worth more than P350 billion, adding that they do not specify the exact type of flood control structures built, repaired, or rehabilitated. 

The President's list of 15 contractors does not include SYMS Construction Trading.

Meanwhile, Marcos called on the public to continue filing reports in the sumbongsapangulo.ph website with regard to corrupt flood control projects. — VDV, GMA Integrated News