The district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Davao Occidental District Engineering Office and other personalities involved in the ghost flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental are set to face charges.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is investigating all individuals involved and has directed the district engineer to submit all documents related to the project to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Davao Occidental.

The district engineer and others involved may face charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of fund, falsification of documents, and procurement law violations.

“Maging honest ako sayo, ipapakulong kita,” ICI Special Adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong told DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineer, Engr. Rodrigo Larete, during the inspection on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

"Wala naman ho akong magagawa kung ganyan po,” Larete replied.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, along with Magalong, inspected the flood control project in Barangay Culaman and expressed outrage after finding it unfinished despite being paid fully during the previous administration. “Pero alam mong illegal ‘yun diba na magbayad ka para sa isang project ng buo pati retention pero hindi pa tapos,” Dizon told Larete.

The project, which was funded in 2021, was supposed to be completed in October 2022. What angered Dizon the most was that the P96.5 million project had already been paid for in January 2023 even though it remained unfinished three years past its target completion.

"Nagbayad ka kahit hindi talaga sya completed,” Dizon told Larete.

Larete said they paid the project fully to catch up with the disbursement rate, a reason that Dizon did not accept.

"Due to the disbursement rate na hinahabol namin…Pero with the agreement na tatapusin ng contractor,” Larete explained.

The project was reportedly damaged after being hit by flooding and faced problems with quarrying.

However, residents claimed that the project was abandoned after only clearing operations were done and that the construction started just two weeks ago.

Dizon said this was a ghost project, with construction rushed only because an inspection was scheduled. “So ito ay ghost project na nasimulan, napondohan ng previous administration at na-carry over nalang noong 2022,” Dizon said.

Dizon said the project was awarded to the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Company under a dummy personality.

"Huwag na tayong maglokohan. Alam naman natin ang St. Timothy kay Discaya, inamin na. Diba, huwag ka na magmaang-maangan sa akin,” Dizon told Larete.

Dizon warned all district and regional offices of DPWH.

“I am telling all the people of DPWH now in all districts kung merong ganito sa inyo wag niyong hintayin na pumunta pa ako dyan magkusa na kayo come forward present it to me now. wala akong pakialam kung maubos ang district engineers sa buong pilipinas kung kailan yon ang mangyayari para malinis to gagawin ko yan and wag nilang isipin na nagbibiro ako,” Dizo said.

Dizon clarified that inspections were based on reports from the public and that they are not singling out the Davao Region.

“We are focusing on the entire country and it is not easy we got reports here so we went here,” Dizon added.

(With reports from Jandi Esteban, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)