DA FILES RAPS VS. DPWH OFFICIALS, CONTRACTORS OVER 'GHOST' FARM ROADS

On Thursday, DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. filed charges against six DPWH officials and eight contractors linked to allegedly nonexistent FMR projects funded under the 2021 national budget.

The complaints named DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineer Rodrigo Larete, Project Engineer and Officer-in-charge (OIC)-Chief of Construction Section Joel Lumogdang, OIC-Assistant District Engineer Michael Awa, Quality Assurance Officer Jafel Faunillan and Acting Finance Chief Czar Ryan Ubungen.

The respondents were charged with alleged corrupt practices, malversation of public funds, falsification of public documents, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty.

According to the DA, the respondents falsified Statements of Work Accomplished, Certificates of Payment, and Disbursement Vouchers to make the project appear completed and facilitate the release of government funds.

The questioned projects were located in several barangays in Davao Occidental, particularly in the municipality of Jose Abad Santos. Contract values ranged from roughly P10 million to nearly P15 million per project.

Tiu Laurel told reporters that the complaints were filed after a thorough investigation and a seven-month case buildup.

“They can get good lawyers. So, we really have to prepare a case. Ngayon, nandito tayo after pitong buwan, I can say na medyo maganda at solid lahat ng ebidensya, solid ang lahat ng kaso,“ he said.

The agriculture chief also recalled visiting the sites and finding no signs of completion or implementation—which deprived farmers of critical infrastructure that could have cut costs for agricultural communities.

“Matagal na nilang hinihintay ‘yung farm-to-market road na matagal nang napangako sa kanila,“ he said. “Makakatulong talaga ito sa cost nila, logistics, pati ginhawa at oras, dahil ang oras ay hindi natin mapapalitan.“

“Wala talaga, zero, wala kang makita, mayroong daanan dirt road na dinadaanan ng tao o tricycle, pero walang semento, walang bakal, wala lahat,“ he added.

Tiu Laurel said that more complaints over ghost farm roads will be filed over the next few months.

“Itong walo ngayon sa Davao Occidental, ‘yung pito na susunod sa Davao Occidental pa rin,” he said.

“Mayroon na rin kaming kini-case buildup sa Guinobatan, Albay, pinuntahan ko rin yun few months ago, wala rin, hindi rin namin makita yung project.”