The mayor of San Carlos City in the Province of Negros Occidental was startled reportedly at the letters he received from the Procurement Service of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office.

Mayor  Renato Gustilo said that the letters were sent on separate dates and needed his confirmation on the legitimacy of his signature used on documents connected to three flood control projects in San Carlos City.

“It was a letter for verification regarding projects allegedly of those contractors who claim they have a project here in San Carlos City for flood control,” said Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., spokesperson of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Carlos City.

The mayor affixed allegedly his signature on the Notice of Awards, Notice to Proceed, Contract of Agreement, Certificate of Completion and Acceptance, and Certificate of Final Acceptance.

Included in the entire amount of the project that reached P306.4 million are the P151-million flood control project in Palampas River, over P77 million flood control project in Andoon River, and over P77 million flood control project in Jigalaman River under three different contractors.

Gustilo reportedly replied to the letters immediately, citing that his signature has been forged.

“He immediately replied. He refer the matter to his legal team and when they verified the documents nakita doon na forged po yung signatures ni mayor sa tatlong documents, puro forged yung signature ni mayor. In short, peke,” Alingasa disclosed.

According to the Fifth District Engineering Office of Negros Occidental, it is possible that the contractors were seeking an upgrade to their respective licenses, and used the said projects and the mayor’s signature for their intention to take off.

"Indi ko rin sila kilala. Hindi naman sila naka-transact sa aming district. Iyan ang lumalabas sa mga Notice of Awards sa kanilang documents ang pangalan ni Mayor Gustilo. Kung maaprobahan, ma-upgrade ang kanilang license, parang magiging malaki ang contracting capacity na pwede kang makilahok sa ganyang mga project. Ang ginawa nila, (para) sa upgrading lang sa license, eh,” Engr. Alfonso Jorbina Sr., officer in charge of Negros Occidental 5^th District Engineering Office, said.

Alingasa, the LGU spokesperson, said there are flood control projects in the city but these are not handled by the companies mentioned in the documents that claimed to be contractors.

"In short, gusto lang nilang mag ride-on doon sa existing projects. Hindi po siya matatawag na ghost projects kasi it’s there already but in as much as nag-appropriate ng P306 million, yun po yung ma-consider na ghost kasi wala talagang makikita dito sa San Carlos City,” Alingasa pointed out.

Gustilo has sought assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation for a probe on the three contractors.

The mayor has also sent to the NBI a certification from the Bids and Awards Committee of San Carlos City LGU as proof that the projects mentioned in the documents are not in the city records.