The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed complaints against 20 individuals allegedly involved in two alleged ghost flood control projects in Balamban, Cebu.

The NBI filed the complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Among those sued are engineers, personnel of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cebu 3rd Engineering District, and private individuals.

They are facing charges for alleged malversation of public funds, violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, perjury, and falsification of public documents.

Balamban, an LGU west of Cebu Province, is part of the Third District.

Both the Cebu 3rd District Engineering Office and the DPWH Regional Office refused to issue a statement, saying it is only the DPWH central office that is authorized to make a comment.

The subject of the complaint are flood mitigating measures at the Kumbado River reportedly in Barangay Singsing in Balamban.

But an official of Barangay Singsing told GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak that no flood control project was ever built in their barangay.

“Wala gyud mi kahibalo nga naay project diay sa flood control nga, unta, nga naa ibutang sa Barangay Singsing,” said Councilwoman Lucy Tagalog.

However, they reportedly learned in 2025 that a flood mitigation structure was built in the neighboring barangay of Cantuod.

Tagalog accompanied GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak to the area at the Kumbado River where the two phases of the project were built.

Strictly, the area already belongs to Barangay Cantuod and is a few kilometers away from the spillway that serves as boundary between the Cantuod and Singsing.

Tagalog said they assisted the NBI when the bureau checked the area and even flew a drone. The NBI saw that the project is really in Barangay Cantuod.

“Dapat unta magpahibalo sila sa kasikbit nga barangay nga naa silay project nga ibutang… at least naman lang, kung naay mangutana namo, makahibalo sad mi nga taga barangay nga naay project diha,” she said.

NO GHOST PROJECT

In an earlier post on Facebook, former Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia said there is no ghost flood control project in Balamban.

He said T=two projects were implemented, completed, and turned over to the local government unit.

These were also audited by Commission on Audit (COA).

The problem, however, is the address of the projects.

Garcia urged the NBI, DPWH, and COA to conduct a joint re-inspection of the two projects.