DOJ Confirms 14 of 421 Flagged Flood Control Projects Do Not Exist

The Department of Justice has confirmed that 14 out of 421 flood control projects initially flagged as potential "ghost projects" were, in fact, never constructed, according to a DOJ update on the ongoing investigation.

Cases have already been filed with the Sandiganbayan over two of the confirmed ghost projects. The remaining 12 are linked to two contractors, SYMS Construction Trading and Waowao Construction Trading, and remain under preliminary investigation.

The DOJ said the review of the remaining flagged projects is continuing, and further confirmations are expected as site inspections and documentation reviews proceed.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Senate President Pro-Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has separately alleged that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan submitted incorrect grid coordinates for thousands of projects during validation, which Lacson described as "grossly inaccurate data." Bonoan has disputed the characterization.