House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio has urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate alleged anomalous flood control projects worth P4.4 billion in Davao City's First District. In a letter to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Tinio cited irregularities in 80 of 121 projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways from 2019 to 2022.
Key Irregularities Identified
According to Tinio, the anomalies include overlapping contracts totaling P135 million, where two contracts funded construction on identical river sections, raising concerns about duplicate payments or ghost projects. Double funding was also noted, with the same project worth P115 million appearing twice in the 2020 General Appropriations Act and awarded to two contractors.
Eight projects worth P425 million were reportedly implemented in unauthorized locations, with significantly shorter structures than funded, yet contractors received nearly full payment. Additionally, 65 contracts worth P3.56 billion lacked key details like station numbers or project lengths, making verification difficult. Ten contracts totaling P623 million had no corresponding line item in the GAA, while another 10 contracts worth P713 million remain unfinished years after expiry. Three were tagged as “100 percent complete” but still marked “on-going,” and the Matina Pangi Bridge 3 was only 64 percent complete after five years.
Congressional Insertions and Contractors
Tinio noted that 49 of the 80 red-flagged contracts were congressional insertions, all concentrated in Davao City’s First Legislative District. He singled out Genesis 88 Construction, owned by Glenn Escandor, former sports adviser of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, as the biggest contractor with 10 contracts worth P713 million. Five other firms accounted for 53 percent of the flagged projects.
“We respectfully urge the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough investigation, with priority attention to physical verification of incomplete and ‘100% complete but On-Going’ projects,” Tinio said. He added that the Ombudsman previously indicated preparing flood control cases against senators, and this complaint provides an opportunity for due diligence.
Response from Representative Paolo Duterte
Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte slammed Tinio for focusing on his jurisdiction while ignoring larger national controversies. He cited DPWH records showing completed infrastructure projects in Davao City from 2020 to 2022 worth P49.84 billion, calling Tinio’s actions a bid to “demonize the Duterte family.”
Duterte urged Tinio to focus on his duties as an ACT Teachers party-list representative, such as fighting for educators and students, rather than engaging in “selective outrage.” He emphasized that flooding is a national issue requiring serious planning and cooperation, not grandstanding.
