BORONGAN CITY – Minority Floor Leader and 4Ps Party List Rep. Marcelino Libanan and Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the alleged ghost projects in their province.
The said projects include the PHP3-billion San Rafael Rock-netting Project, the PHP193-million flood control project in Brgy. Divinubo, and the PHP186-million project in Brgy. Siha here. They also mentioned the flood control projects in Brgy. Soong, Llorente, and Hernani which have been reported to be completed early this year but are now being constructed.
The officials wrote the NBI to ensure that cases will be filed against those responsible for the alleged anomalous projects from 2019 to 2015. Libanan believes in President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s sincerity in holding those responsible for the alleged corruption in the flood-control projects accountable. “Kapag nagsalita ang presidente, buhay na salita ‘yan… Lalo na kapag sinabi ng pangulo in a State of the Nation Address,” Libanan said, adding that everyone must be working towards the same direction.
Meanwhile, Rep. Gonzales also questioned the amount of flood-control projects implemented in the municipality of Oras that reached over PHP800 million, considering that other nearby municipalities such as Maslog, Dolores, Arteche, Can-avid, and Jipapad also suffer from severe flooding.
The two officials were the first to contact the NBI to shed light on the alleged ghost projects that were supposed to be implemented in various municipalities, particularly in Hernani and Llorente.Lawyer Emeterio Dongalio, Jr., NBI-8 Director, said since the areas were specific, they will conduct on-site investigations in all the projects. “This is a very sensitive issue. Big people might be involved but we, in the NBI, actually, professionally as NBI personnel, and personally as a Filipino, I want (these allegations) to be answered if they are true or not because this is for all of us. This is our nation’s money involving billions of pesos,” he said.
“With respect to the politicians, of course, it remains to be seen…Kung may matumbok tayong mga contractor or DPWH official, at magsalita rin sila. Paakyat na ‘yan,” he added.
He also said that they are still waiting for the mandate from the top management on whether they will continue the investigation in other parts of the region.
On the other hand, newly-installed Eastern Samar District Engineer Jehela Roxas vehemently denied the presence of ghost projects in the province. She noted that the projects have experienced delays due to documentary requirements and environmental factors. By Marie Tonette Marticio (EV Mail SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2025 issue)
