COA to file charges vs DPWH execs, contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) on Monday committed to filing charges against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and contractors found involved in the questionable flood control projects.

During the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, COA auditor Tracy Ann Sunico said that the cases may be filed within the month, after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa pressed her to give a definite answer as “people are impatient with all these corruption happening.” 

“Based po doon sa audit, sir, ‘yung mga persons liable po pwede pong management officials ng DPWH at ganun din po ‘yung mga contractors po,” Sunico said. 

(Based on the audit, sir, the people who may be held liable are the management officials of DPWH, as well as the contractors.) 

The COA official said the audit teams of DPWH had issued notices of disallowances based on the absence or non-submission of the disbursement vouchers, and those with technical deficiencies, such as some of the flood control projects in Bulacan. 

“Doon po sa case po kasi ng Bulacan, Your Honor, marami pong hindi na-submit na disbursement vouchers,” Sunico said. 

(In Bulacan’s case, many firms did not submit their disbursement vouchers.) 

Panel chairman Rodante Marcoleta then asked her if the COA is only solely dependent on the documents. 

Sunico said COA is now finalizing the fraud audits against the companies that bagged the anomalous flood control projects.

“Kaya nga po dahil hindi po sila nakapag-submit, nag-isyu na po ang audit teams ng notices of disallowance,” she added.

(No, Your Honor, that's why the audit teams already issued notices of disallowance because some were not able to submit.) 

Unsatisfied with the answer, Dela Rosa told her, “Alam mo, ‘yung mga tao nanonood sa atin sabihin nila, kaya pala nag-lipana 'yung ghost projects dahil ang COA kabagal kumilos.”

(The people watching us might be saying that the ghost projects are proliferating because the COA is so slow to act.) 

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved to subpoena the fraud audit documents from COA to shed light on the blue ribbon committee's investigation on the matter.

COA earlier tasked its technical service office to immediately conduct an inspection on all flood control projects in Bulacan, prioritizing the highest valued projects.

The COA Fraud Audit Office (FAO) had also retrieved the first batch of key documents needed for the investigation into flood control projects in Bulacan. 

The primary purpose of the special audit is to identify and substantiate instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement, the FAO said, noting that this would also ensure robust accountability and foster the development of resilient and effective public infrastructure. — RF, GMA Integrated News