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Office of the Ombudsman. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Akbayan partylist group troop to the office of the Ombudsman to award a symbolic medal of Valor to Ombudsman Conchita Morales during a gathering in front ot eh agency's gate, October 4, 2017. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Office of the Ombudsman

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177934608803220171004-ombudsman-conchita-morales--8-JC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Office of the Ombudsman. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo on Thursday filed graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of documents complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Caloocan 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio, Public Works District Engineer Ruel Umali, and several private contracting executives over P79.2 million in allegedly &quot;ghost&quot; and anomalous infrastructure projects.</div><p>Malonzo said the alleged irregularities were first documented by a private citizen he identified as Byron Columna and who he claimed inspected the project sites and was shot last year in an incident he believed was related to his revelations about the projects.</p><p>“Itong aking witness, ito yung talagang nakakita ng mga anomalya doon. Binaril ito, ilang beses binaril. Nagtatakbo lang siya nang malayo at maraming tama at walang gustong tumulong sa kanya,” Malonzo told reporters in an ambush interview.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/ombudsman-urged-to-investigate-red-flagged-flood-control-projects-in-davao-city-1606">Ombudsman urged to investigate ‘red-flagged’ flood control projects in Davao City</a></div><p>According to the complaint, progress photos uploaded to the Department of Public Works and Highways transparency portal allegedly showed unrelated locations, digitally manipulated images, or renovation works being presented as newly constructed buildings.</p><p>One of the projects cited in the complaint is a P19.2-million flood control project in Barangay 187 awarded to Diadema Construction and Enterprises Inc. whose uploaded photographic proof allegedly &quot;fails to show the existence of any flood control structure&quot;.</p><p>“Moreover, the images themselves bear characteristics that cast serious doubt on their authenticity, as they appear to be artificially generated or manipulated rather than genuine photographic records,” the complaint read. </p><p>Another P19.2-million contract for road and drainage rehabilitation in Barangay 163, awarded to Wawao Builders, reportedly used completion photos taken from an entirely different village. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/p92-8-million-flood-control-project-in-revilla-case-lacks-materials-test-report-dpwh-official-1331">P92.8-million flood control project in Revilla case lacks materials test report — DPWH official</a></div><p>The complaint also cited a rehabilitation project for a covered court in Barangay 187 by 5-I Construction Corp. Malonzo alleged that the contractor billed the government P9.76 million to replace standard roofing sheets that would commercially value at less than P75,000.</p><p>“The glaring disparity between the observable scope of work and the amount disbursed clearly indicates gross overpricing, giving rise to a reasonable inference of fund diversion, ghost accomplishments, or padding of project costs,” the complaint read.</p><p>Another project questioned was a P9.68-million day care center in Barangay 187, also awarded to 5-I Construction Corp. The complaint alleged that although official project billboards indicated the construction of a new facility, actual site work was limited to repainting an existing structure.</p><p>Also cited in the complaint was a P6.74 million roads and drainage project in Barangay 187 awarded to DSA Prime Builders Corp., where site photographs downloaded from the DPWH database allegedly showed no visible signs of construction activity or completed infrastructure.</p><p>A separate P11.72 million road construction project in Barangay 159 contracted to Pheames Community Construction Corp. allegedly used time-stamped portal photos showing different residential areas taken minutes apart to conceal the absence of actual infrastructure development.</p><p>The complaint further cited a P2.92 million multi-purpose building completion project in Barangay 177 awarded to Framecon Builders.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/20/new-budget-chief-vows-no-repeat-of-flood-control-corruption-scandal-2106">New budget chief vows no repeat of flood control corruption scandal</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ALLEGED SCHEME</strong></div><p>Field inspections allegedly showed that the submitted completion photos depicted only a minor renovation of an existing homeowners’ association office rather than a newly completed covered court.</p><p>It further argued that although Asistio did not directly sign the project documents, he allegedly participated in the scheme through political influence and his visible association with the projects, including official tarpaulins bearing his image.</p><p>Umali is also cited for allegedly approving and executing the notices of award and project clearances despite the missing infrastructure.</p><p>“Kasi sa ngayon parang nakakalimutan na itong mga anomalya sa mga proyekto ng DPWH, puro na lang tayo sa impeachment nakafocus eh. Balik na tayo at hinihikayat ko ang mga mamamayan na nakakakita ng anomalya na magsampa po kayo ng demanda,” Malonzo said.</p><p>“Dapat may masuspende, dapat may managot, kung kailangan, makulong,” he added.</p><p>Asistio said in a message that he will issue a comment once he receives an official copy of the complaint.</p><p>In 2025, Asistio appeared before the now-dissolved Independent Commission for Infrastructure&#x27;s hearing on alleged anomalous flood control projects. He previously denied claims of “ghost projects” in his district.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-JnbUIZi2k?&amp;pp=ygUlZmxvb2QgY29wbnRyb2wgb21idWRzbWFuIGFicyBjYm4gbmV3cw%3D%3D&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FJ6JjcPS6bw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo on filed graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of documents complaints before the Ombudsman against Caloocan Third District Rep. Dean Asistio and others over alleged P79.2 million ghost and anomalous infrastructure projects.</p>

Former Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo on filed graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of documents complaints before the Ombudsman against Caloocan Third District Rep. Dean Asistio and others over alleged P79.2 million ghost and anomalous infrastructure projects.

Malonzo files graft raps vs Asistio, others over allegedly anomalous infra projects

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Malonzo files graft raps vs Asistio, others over allegedly anomalous infra projects

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2026 02:57 PM PHT

|

Updated May 21, 2026 04:18 PM PHT

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Reynaldo Malonzo

Dean Asistio

DPWH

Ombudsman

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