Up to 1,200 individuals may be involved in the alleged anomalous flood control projects across the country, according to estimates released by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). The commission is anticipating the arrival of additional documents as early as this weekend from military and police ground troops investigating the so-called “ghost projects.”
ICI Commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson announced the estimate during a press briefing on Friday, stating that they expect more evidence from the joint teams of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) mobilized nationwide to focus on these projects, particularly those undertaken by “notorious contractors.”
Singson explained that the estimate was derived from the calculation that an average of 15 people are typically implicated in a single ghost project.
Based on 80 such projects identified by notorious contractors, the number of potentially involved individuals was estimated at 1,200. Singson noted that the Office of the Ombudsman would soon be receiving a flood of papers and referrals related to these findings.
This development follows the joint referral submitted earlier Friday by the ICI and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The referral recommends the filing of plunder and other charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, citing alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and direct bribery, among others. The submission includes project contracts from 2016 to 2025 and sworn testimonies related to the two officials.