Arya News - The projects are part of the P1.9 billion worth of flood control projects in Duterte’s district, all of which Matibag said were awarded to Genesis88 Construction, Inc.
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has flagged 47 of 100 flood control projects in the district of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.
The projects are part of the P1.9 billion worth of flood control projects in Duterte’s district, all of which Matibag said were awarded to Genesis88 Construction, Inc.
Matibag said the contractor is close to the Dutertes.
“There are projects that were red-flagged… About 47 out of 100,” Matibag told reporters in an interview, citing records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
When asked about the nature of the “red flags,” Matibag cited “ghost” and “substandard” projects.
“There’s a project with one coordinate and five budgets, each with a different title,” he added. “This isn’t gossip. I saw the document.”
However, he clarified that only about six projects had clear problems.
The NBI director said they would start issuing subpoenas on Friday to 51 individuals from Genesis88 Construction, as well as Gemma Construction, Agong Construction, the DPWH, and the Commission on Audit to shed light on the investigation.
Matibag later clarified that the bureau would first issue subpoenas to four individuals from the three construction companies and the DPWH.
He did not provide further details on the identities of the individuals, but he said Duterte was not included in the list.
Duterte: There must be no ‘selective’ probe
Following Matibag’s remark, Duterte said that while he welcomed the investigation into Davao City’s flood control projects, there must not be a “selective investigation.”
“Taga Dabaw kami. May malasakit kami sa lungsod namin. Kaya gusto naming makita ang ebidensya, documents, videos, at mismong projects na sinasabing may problema… I hope may media coverage sa hearing niyo para makita ng buong bayan kung ano yang nakita mong substandard at ghost project,” Duterte said.
(We are from Davao. We care about our city. That’s why we want to see the evidence, documents, videos, and the projects themselves that are said to have problems… I hope there is media coverage of your hearing so the entire nation can see what substandard and ghost projects you found.)
“Pero sana lang kung seryoso tayo sa imbestigasyon, dapat pare-pareho ang standards sa lahat ng lugar… Kung may ghost o substandard projects, imbestigahan lahat—Davao man o saan mang bahagi ng bansa. Walang selective investigation,” he added.
(But I hope if we are serious about the investigation, the standards should be the same in all areas… If there are ghost or substandard projects, investigate them all—whether in Davao or any part of the country. There is no selective investigation.)
He also questioned whether the NBI would investigate flood control projects in the district of Matibag’s wife, Laguna 1st District Rep. Ann Matibag.
“Congresswoman Matibag, kumusta naman ang mga alegasyon at ebidensya tungkol sa mga proyekto sa inyong distrito? May videos at documents din ba?” Duterte asked.
(Congresswoman Matibag, how are the allegations and evidence regarding the projects in your district? Are there videos and documents?)
“Ipa-subpoena rin ba ang mga contractor na Discaya sa dalawang project na sila rin ang contractor? Kasi may hawak kami na videos sa projects sa distrito ni Ann Matibag at ng mga Discaya,” he added.
(Will the contractors Discaya also be subpoenaed for the two projects that they are also the contractors for? Because we have videos on the projects in Ann Matibag’s district and the Discayas.)