Ex-Cebu solon denies ‘ghost project’ claim

Former Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia has denied the National Bureau of Investigation’s (nbi) claim that two flood control undertakings in Balamban, Cebu, were “ghost projects,” insisting the infrastructure was completed, turned over to local governments and audited by the Commission on Audit.

In a social media post, Garcia said the projects cited by the NBI had been implemented and accepted by the concerned local government units.

“Out of respect for the agency concerned, I wanted to wait for the Department of Public Works and Highways to issue its statement regarding this issue,” Garcia said.

“There are no ghost projects. These two projects have been implemented, completed, turned over, accepted by the LGUs concerned and audited by the Commission on Audit,” he added.

The statement came after NBI director Melvin Matibag announced on 11 July that investigators had uncovered two alleged ghost flood control projects in Balamban, with the bureau filing a complaint that is now under preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice.

NBI Cebu District Office chief Arnel Pura, who led the investigation, said the agency found discrepancies in the projects’ locations.

According to Pura, investigators discovered three different locations associated with the same project — one identified by the contractor, another by the DPWH and a third indicated in the approved plans.

“Imagine that? One project but three locations?” Pura said.

Matibag later clarified that the projects were worth P67 million and P96 million, correcting earlier reports that both cost P80 million each.

Garcia maintained that the dispute involves the exact location of the projects rather than their existence.

He said the DPWH’s geotagging system places the projects in Barangay Singsing, Balamban, consistent with the General Appropriations Act, while the NBI believes portions extend into neighboring Barangay Cantuod along the same river.

Garcia said the flood control structures were already in use during the recent flooding and argued that the issue concerns only whether they are located entirely within Barangay Singsing or extend a few meters into the adjacent barangay.