No ghost projects in my district, says QC Rep. PM Vargas

Quezon City Representative Patrick Michael "PM" Vargas on Wednesday maintained that there are no ghost projects in his district after a group filed abuse of rights and unjust enrichment complaints against him over the flooding in Novaliches despite millions of reported projects.

"Walang tinatawag na ghost projects sa aking distrito. Mismong si Mayor Joy Belmonte na ang nagpahayag nito. Kusang-loob din akong humarap sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure),” said Vargas in a statement. 

(My district does not have ghost projects, and even our Mayor Joy Belmonte has gone on record with this. I have also faced the ICI to address this.)

Vargas also believes that the complaint is politically motivated. 

“Malinaw na malinaw na may bahid ng pulitika ang reklamong ito. Kitang-kita rin kung sino ang nasa likod nito at kung sino ang responsable sa walang tigil na paninira laban sa akin sa social media," said Vargas.

(It is very clear that this is politically motivated, and the people behind the smear campaign against me online are identifiable.)

Vargas made the statement after the United People Against Corruption (UPAC) filed the civil complaint with a regional trial court (RTC) against him, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and former House appropriations panel chair Zaldy Co.

Citing data compiled by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), UPAC said that flood control allocations for Vargas reached P944.6 million per year, or approximately P2.86 billion from 2023 to 2025.

“Despite these allocations, residents report little to no improvement in flood conditions in affected barangays...  Kung may pondo, dapat may proyekto. Kung may proyekto, dapat may malinaw na resulta. At kung walang resulta, may mananagot,” UPAC said.

Vargas said that he will face his accusers head on.

“Handa tayong lumaban dahil nasa panig natin ang katotohanan,” the lawmaker said. 

 (I am ready to face this because we are on the side of the truth.)

Vargas has been tagged to alleged anomalous projects by the Discayas, but he has already submitted documents to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to prove that the alleged projects by the Discayas do not exist. 

Co's lawyer, Atty. Ruy Rondain, meanwhile, said he would have to read the filed civil case first before making a comment.

GMA News Online has reached out to Romualdez, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. —VAL, GMA Integrated News