Contractors in panic, rushing to cover their tracks

Unscrupulous contractors are now in a mad rush to cover their tracks, say my sources, amid bombshell after bombshell of corruption-related exposés on flood control projects.

Some are contemplating turning state witnesses while others are hurriedly packing their bags to flee the country, I heard.

“Some contractors are willing to testify and identify those involved – from district engineers (DEs) to congressmen,” a source said.

These corrupt contractors have every reason to be scared. After all, those found to be involved in this netherworld of corruption may face plunder charges – a non-bailable crime.

Any public official can be liable for plunder for amassing at least P50 million, and those guilty shall be punished by reclusion perpetua, according to the law.

In addition – and this is where the contractors fall – any person who participates with the said public officer in the commission of an offense contributing to the crime of plunder shall likewise be punished.

“In the imposition of penalties, the degree of participation and the attendance of mitigating and extenuating circumstances, as provided by the Revised Penal Code, shall be considered by the court. The court shall declare any and all ill-gotten wealth and their interests and other incomes and assets, including the properties and shares of stocks derived from the deposit or investment thereof, forfeited in favor of the State,” according to Republic Act 7080, an Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder.

Against this backdrop, contractors are indeed jittery and anxious. Some, I’ve been told, are suddenly trying to remedy ghost projects by doing some last-minute construction work.

Ping Lacson’s bombshell

Kudos to Sen. Ping Lacson for his bombshell speech. It is only the beginning and it is the kind of exposé we need. He must continue this crusade and be relentless until the last of the guilty are held accountable.

I would also like to thank the good senator for citing my Aug. 14 column, “District engineer’s casino addiction spawns ghost projects,” in his speech.

In one case cited by Sen. Lacson, I also learned that the concerned DE has a collection of Lamborghinis.

Do you know how much a Lambo costs in the Philippines? It’s anywhere from P12 million to P36 million. Imagine that, a government official with a Lambo.

This DE, who happens to be a gearhead, would load his Lambo on a trailer truck to conceal it from his neighbors and then drive it as soon as he is far from his community. Sometimes, I heard, he displays it on Burgos Circle during Car Day Sundays, when car enthusiasts gather and display their supercars.

Money trail

As for the money trail, this may be difficult to follow because it’s mostly in cold cash, with bagmen doing the exchange in quiet basement parking lots, private hotel rooms or some other clandestine spots.

It’s a lot of money so it’s in luggage of different shapes and sizes. I am told that one kilo of P1,000-peso bill is equivalent to roughly P1 million. Thus, a luggage with a 30-kilo capacity can fit P30 million. Payment for a P100-million contract would fit in four 30-kilo pieces of luggage while an SOP of 12 percent for a P100-million contract can fit in a medium-sized travel suitcase. If less than that, the bagmen can just use a hand-carry bag.

But even if the money trail or the money itself may be difficult to find, I’m told it’s mostly hidden in condominiums used solely as cash storage by those involved in this web of corruption.

If investigators can get a search warrant to search the homes or safehouses of these individuals, they might just find the money.

Following Sen. Lacson’s privilege speech, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said at least 10 officials of the DPWH 1st District Engineering’s Office (DEO) have been relieved from their posts amid an ongoing probe into ghost flood control projects.

While we’re at it, the DPWH must also do its research first before awarding its DEOs.

In 2023, the DPWH awarded this very same office (Bulacan 1st DEO) as regional top performer in financial management.

“The awards received by Bulacan 1st DEO highlighted their outstanding financial management performance, ranking first in the region with a Prior Years’ Disbursement Rate of 96.51 percent and securing the third positing in achieving a Target Absorptive capacity of 95.13 percent as of Aug. 31, 2023, among the 16 DEOs in the region,” the DPWH said.

Ah, the irony. Hearing things like this, I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Darcy and Anna

Speaking of Bulacan, Sen. Lacson also mentioned Darcy and Anna Builders, the contractor with a salon-sounding name I earlier hinted about in my Aug. 19 column, “Look beyond top 15 contractors.”

Lacson, citing a ghost-turned-substandard project in Malolos, Bulacan, said, “Ang contractor nito, na Darcy and Anna Builders, nagmumukhang multo rin.”

When his team visited the company’s office in Rizal, it was no longer there. I wonder if the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board knows this.

Moving forward, the DPWH must also look beyond Bulacan. Hint: look at Region IV-B, There are ghost projects there, too, say my sources.

The plot just gets thicker every day.

It’s almost ghost month (starts Sept. 6), when the gates of the underworld supposedly open, allowing spirits to roam the earth.

But ghost projects in public works? They’re around all year.

It’s time we put an end to this.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.