Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday filed graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental and private contractors over alleged ₱94 million worth of “ghost” farm-to-market road projects.
According to a "Operation Tulong" report by RH Val Gonzales, the complaint-affidavits were filed in connection with eight farm-to-market road projects in Davao Occidental that were allegedly paid for despite having little to no actual construction on the ground.
Laurel personally appeared at the Ombudsman’s office with his legal team, bringing the documents and evidence supporting the complaint.
Among the respondents named in the complaints are Rodrigo Larete, Project Engineer and OIC-Chief of Construction Section Joel Lumogdang, OIC-Assistant District Engineer Michael Awa, Quality Assurance Officer Jafel C. Faunillan, Acting Finance Chief Czar Ryan S. Ubungen, and several private contractors, including Leonila P. Urgel of RDF Construction and Supply, as well as officials from other construction firms.
“Pinuntahan ko mismo yung mga yan, late last year. Wala talaga, zero, wala kang makita,“ Laurel said.
“Meron siyang daanan, pang lakaran na dirt road. Dinaadaanan lang ng tao, paa, tricycle. Pero talagang wala semento, wala bakal, wala lahat,” Laurel added.
According to the DA chief, the allegedly anomalous projects include roads in Barangay Caburan in San Jose Abad Santos and several sites in Culaman, Datu Danwata, Demoloc and Manuel Peralta, Malita with project costs ranging from over ₱1 million to nearly ₱15 million each.
Laurel said all eight projects had a combined value of about ₱94 million, which he claimed were disbursed despite the absence of physical implementation or proper validation by the implementing agency.
He also alleged that supporting documents such as statements of work accomplished, certificates of payment, project status reports, and disbursement vouchers were falsified.
The DA chief’s legal counsel said the acts constitute violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation, Articles 171 and 172 on falsification of public documents, and Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Laurel vowed to pursue all those involved, stressing that the funds are intended for farmers and not for the pockets of corrupt government officials.
