📷: Nabisto sa ICI inspection ang ‘structural failure’ sa Davao Flood Control Project.
Bumuwelta si ACT Teachers Representative at Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio sa hamon ni Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte na bumisita sa Davao, iginiit na ang P4.35 bilyong iskandalo sa flood control ay hindi pulitikal na palabas kundi nakabatay sa matitibay na datos mula mismo sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Congressman Duterte seems to have missed the point entirely. The data I presented showing 80 out of 121 contracts worth P4.35 billion with serious red flags came from the DPWH’s own records, their website, and official budget documents. We simply analyzed and cross-checked what the government’s own data revealed,” pahayag ni Tinio.
Dagdag pa ni Tinio, mismong ang Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) ay nakatuklas ng bumagsak na flood control structure sa Davao River sa Matina Gravahan, walong buwan lamang makaraan itong matapos noong Mayo 2023.
Ayon kay ICI Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr., posibleng gumamit ng substandard na materyales at kinakailangang repasuhin ang kontrata.
“I think we have to review the contract so that we can determine what sanctions we can impose on the contractors as well as those who supposedly implemented the project,” ani Azurin, ayon kay Tinio.
“So Congressman Duterte says these projects were inspected and validated by DPWH and COA, yet an inspection team led by Azurin and ICI advisor Mayor Magalong found a collapsed project and is now questioning the materials used and calling for contract reviews and sanctions. Sino ba ang dapat paniwalaan?” tanong ni Tinio.
Binigyang-diin ni Tinio na ang kanyang exposé ay tumukoy sa limang kategorya ng seryosong iregularidad:
– Total overlap: P135.14 milyon
– Double funding: P115.09 milyon
– Changed location and shortchanging : P484.04 milyon
– Contracts without proper specifications : P3.44 bilyon
– Contracts not in the approved budget : P622.57 milyon
“Congressman Duterte invites me to walk the riverbanks and see the projects. But the question is not simply whether structures exist—the question is whether the right structures were built in the right locations, whether they were built to specifications, whether they can withstand flooding, and whether P4.35 billion in public funds was spent properly or pocketed by contractors and corrupt officials,” giit ni Tinio.
Tinukoy din niya ang mga kumpanyang may koneksyong pulitikal na paulit-ulit na lumilitaw sa mga proyekto: ALFREGO BUILDERS, pag-aari ng kapatid ni Senador Bong Go na si Alfredo Go, na nakipag-joint venture sa RELY CONSTRUCTION (P96.5 milyon), at GENESIS88, na pag-aari ni Glenn Escandor na nag-donate sa kampanya ni VP Sara Duterte noong 2022.
“These are not baseless accusations or political drama. These are documented irregularities in DPWH’s own records involving billions in public funds and contractors with clear political ties to the Duterte family and their allies,” diin ni Tinio.
Inanunsyo rin ng mambabatas na maghahain siya ng House resolution sa susunod na linggo para sa isang congressional investigation, at pormal na hihilingin sa Commission on Audit (COA), Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), at Office of the Ombudsman na magsagawa ng kani-kanilang imbestigasyon.
“Congressman Duterte says Davao has nothing to hide. Good. Then he should welcome a full, transparent investigation of all flood control and infrastructure projects in his district. The Filipino people deserve answers about how P4.35 billion in public funds was spent—or misspent,” pagtatapos ni Tinio. (ROSE NOVENARIO)