NBI: 6 Davao flood projects may be ‘ghosts’

MANILA, Philippines — Six of 51 flood control projects in Davao City flagged by the National Bureau of Investigation have strong indications of being “ghosts” or nonexistent, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said yesterday.

Matibag said the NBI investigated 100 projects and found red flags in 51, including six that warranted closer scrutiny for being “undelivered.”

The NBI also found a project site that was funded five times under different project titles, but carried the same coordinates.

Two allocations were worth P21 million each, while three were P22 million each.

Matibag said investigators were examining 10 boxes of documents submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao region, to determine whether the projects were actually completed and have met required specifications.

Among records being reviewed are documents showing names of people who accepted the projects, findings of the Commission on Audit (COA), inspection reports and project specifications.

“We are not saying that anyone is guilty, stole or misappropriated anything. We will first look at the evidence,” Matibag said.

He said the bureau is looking into a preliminary report of the COA indicating that contractor Genesis 88 obtained about P7 billion worth of DPWH-implemented flood projects in Davao from 2018 to 2024. 

Matibag said the NBI would validate reports linking the contractor’s owner to the Duterte family before drawing conclusions.

He said the case would either be further investigated by the Department of Justice or be brought directly before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The bureau is initially focusing on DPWH officials and contractors, and may summon Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte if the evidence points to his involvement.

The NBI said the flood control investigation is not limited to Davao, with similar probes being conducted in other parts of the country.