Furious over what he called blatant deception, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the government is now studying the filing of criminal charges—including possible counts of economic sabotage—against contractors and officials who falsified reports on a P55-million riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had marked the project as “completed,” despite zero construction on the ground, prompting the President to personally inspect the site and denounce the fraud.
“No, I’m not disappointed, I’m angry,” the President told reporters after inspecting the supposed 220-meter reinforced concrete riverwall in Barangay Piel on Wednesday morning, Aug. 20.
“Kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho. Wala kang makita kahit na ano,” he added.
The President said the absence of flood control structures has allowed flooding to persist in nearby communities.
“If all of these projects were properly executed and implemented, ang laki nang nawala na problema sana sa atin at sa taumbayan,” he said.
Marcos said the government is eyeing legal action against those responsible.
“Kitang-kita naman na hindi completed. So, immediately, that’s a falsification. So, that’s already a very big violation,” he said.
“For the big ones, I’m thinking very hard… pipilahan natin sila ng economic sabotage,” he added.
Marcos noted that the government could have saved on debt had the funds for flood control projects been properly used.
“Ngayon babalikan na natin ngayon ito, saan napunta ‘yung pera, hahabulin natin, kakasuhan natin sila,” he said.
Marcos said that a legal team has started reviewing DPWH documents and comparing them with complaints received from residents.
“We are continuing to go through the records of Public Works and all the big contractors to see kung tumutugma ‘yung kanilang report doon sa mga sinusumbong sa atin ng taumbayan,” he said.
The President emphasized that the audit will not be limited to Bulacan.
“It depends on what our findings will be. There’s a legal team working on that,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)
