Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Audit on Monday said it will file charges &quot;this month&quot; over alleged &quot;ghost&quot; flood-control projects—and respondents may include management officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the government contractors.</p><p>In a Senate hearing, COA Auditor Tracy Ann Sunico explained that the auditing agency is now finalizing the fraud audits against the contracting firms that bagged the allegedly anomalous flood-control projects.</p><p>This comes after Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa questioned COA’s post auditing of the &quot;ghost&quot; flood-control projects, alleging that the audit agency failed to flag the projects before the release of final payment.</p><p>Sunico explained that the COA’s auditors under DPWH has already issued notices of disallowances for firms that failed to submit disbursement vouchers.</p><p>Firms that failed to submit disbursement vouchers may face legal charges, she said.  </p><p>In Bulacan, Sunico said many contracting firms failed to submit disbursement vouchers.</p><p>COA last week <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/26/coa-orders-inspection-of-ongoing-completed-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1800">ordered </a>in-person technical inspection of all ongoing and completed flood control projects in Bulacan implemented from January 2022 to July 2025.</p><p>Sunico said that COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba was unable to attend today’s Senate hearing as he is finalizing the fraud audits. </p><p>The fraud audits, she said, would contain the key takeaways of the inspection, including the nature of the alleged fraud, evidence, and persons liable.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/17/firm-with-p250k-paid-up-capital-among-biggest-contractors-for-flood-control-projects-docs-1537">Firm with P250K paid-up capital among biggest contractors for flood-control projects: docs</a></div><p>Sen. Joel Villanueva in the hearing moved to subpoena the document once it was finished, which was approved by Blue Ribbon chair Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. </p><p>Meanwhile, Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Larry Barcelo said the bureau is issuing letters of authority to the 15 contractors flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for bagging 20% of the flood-control projects in the country, to kick off the investigation on their tax compliance. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vh2N69UrXwQ?si=QhjqhyqD38g0kiBk" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The COA fraud audits would contain the key takeaways of the inspection, including the nature of the alleged fraud, evidence and persons liable. </p>

The COA fraud audits would contain the key takeaways of the inspection, including the nature of the alleged fraud, evidence and persons liable.

COA to file charges vs DPWH officials, contractors over 'ghost' flood projects 'this month'

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COA to file charges vs DPWH officials, contractors over 'ghost' flood projects 'this month'

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 01, 2025 12:09 PM PHT

|

Updated September 01, 2025 12:24 PM PHT

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Senate

COA

DPWH

flood-control projects

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