Jamaine Punzalan

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Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DET2AUmRmng" title="Hindi pagsagot ng Wawao Builders GM, ikinainis ng ilang senador" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Wawao Builders Corp. president Mark Allan Arevalo on Monday invoked his right to self-incrimination during a Senate inquiry on questionable flood-control projects. </p><p>Arevalo had refused to answer when Sen. Joel Villanueva asked whether the firm had &quot;ghost&quot; projects. </p><p>He instead read a pre-written response, saying: “Dahil may mga kasabihan na kakasuhan ang mga contractor ng DPWH po, at parte ng ulat ng Senado ang paghahain ng kaso laban sa resource person, ang payo ng ating mga abogado ay wag magsalita sa panahon na ito dahil anumang pahayag ko sa pagsisiyasat.”</p><p>But Sen. Jinggoy Estrada insisted that the question on the the presence of ghost projects was &quot;only answerable by yes or no.&quot;</p><p>“Is there any ghost projects of Wawao Builders? This is what I discovered and the former [Department of Public Works and Highways] Secretary confirmed during the first hearing that there were indeed ghost projects,” the senator said.</p><p>Arevalo responded, “Bine-verify pa po namin, your honor, ano pong meron.”</p><p>Villanueva expressed disappointment with the company executive&#x27;s lack of information.</p><p>“I am just disappointed kasi… Pambihira ka, sasagot ka ng ganyan, ghost project. Parang tinatanong ka kung tao ka, di mo alam kung tao ka?” he said.</p><p>Arevalo said that Wawao Builders has flood-control projects in Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City, and other provinces.</p><p>But he again refused to answer whether or not the firm has flood-control projects in Bulacan, which is in the spotlight for supposed ghost flood-control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/coa-to-file-charges-against-dpwh-officials-contractors-over-ghost-flood-projects-1209">COA to file charges vs DPWH officials, contractors over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood projects &#x27;this month&#x27;</a></div><p>Estrada said Wawao Builders has 42 projects in Bulacan.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER FIRMS DENY GHOST PROJECTS </strong></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/niOlVMVQwXg" title="Discaya, Lubiano face Senate flood control probe, absentees cited in contempt | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Meanwhile, other contractors such as Sarah Discaya of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor &amp; Development Corporation, Maria Roma Angeline Remando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Marjorie Samidan of MG Samidan Construction, all said there were no ghost flood-control projects under their watches.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/dealer-of-discaya-s-cars-tagged-in-smuggling-of-2-bugattis-1250">Dealer of Discaya&#x27;s cars tagged in smuggling of 2 Bugattis</a></div><p>Discaya said the Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor &amp; Development Corporation has secured an estimate of 400 projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nationwide, not limited to flood control.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/yumaman-sa-dpwh-discaya-says-viral-video-spliced-1059">Yumaman sa DPWH? Discaya says viral video &#x27;spliced&#x27;</a></div><p>MG Samidan Construction said it had 58 flood-control projects from 2022 to 2025, mostly in the Cordillera Administrative Region and its nearby provinces.</p><p>St. Timothy Construction Corporation said it has 145 flood-control projects since 2022. But when asked how many staff the firm operates with, Remando said it only has 38 administrative employees.</p><div> </div><div><strong>MARCOLETA OFFERS DEAL FOR INFORMATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, offered to make a deal with the contractors, saying they could not be prosecuted for criminal charges in return for information on who was most guilty in the alleged  flood control corruption. </p><p>“Kapag nakapagturo kayo ng mga kasangkot talaga diyan, na talaga namang sila ang talamak na sa paggawa nito, anong malay ninyo, imbes na criminal prosecution, wag na yun. Bayaran niyo na lang ang gobyerno, pero magturo po kayo,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/bonoan-contractors-attend-2nd-senate-hearing-into-flood-control-0958">Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan, contractors attend 2nd Senate hearing into flood control mess</a></div><p>Other firm representatives who attended the second Senate hearing for flood-control projects included the following. </p><ul><li>Alex Avelido, Legacy Construction Corporation</li><li>Allan Quirante, QM Builders</li><li>Erni Baggao, EGB Construction Corporation</li><li>Eumir Villanueva, Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.</li><li>Lawrence Lubiano, Centerways Construction and Development, Inc.</li><li>Aderma Angelie Alcasar, Sunwest Inc.</li><li>Edgar Acosta (represented), Hi Tone Construction and Development Corporation</li><li>Wilfredo Natividad, Triple 8 Construction &amp; Supplies</li><li>Romeo Miranda, Royal Crown Monarch Construction &amp; Supplies</li><li>Luisito Tiki, LRT Builders Inc.</li><li>Ryan Willie Uy, Road Edge Trading and Development Services</li><li><br/></li></ul><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/arrest-warrants-loom-for-flood-contractors-who-skipped-2nd-senate-probe-1107">Arrest warrants loom for contractors who skipped 2nd Senate hearing into flood control</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vh2N69UrXwQ?si=CJRjKFgYax504q3T" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Wawao Builders Corp. president Mark Allan Arevalo on Monday invoked his right to self-incrimination during a Senate inquiry on questionable flood-control projects.</p>

Wawao Builders Corp. president Mark Allan Arevalo on Monday invoked his right to self-incrimination during a Senate inquiry on questionable flood-control projects.

Wawao Builders exec invokes right vs self-incrimination in flood control probe

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Wawao Builders exec invokes right vs self-incrimination in flood control probe

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 01, 2025 06:48 PM PHT

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Flood-control projects

DPWH

Senate

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