DOJ: Possible whistleblower in ghost flood control projects surfaces

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Because of this, Remulla said they expect the ongoing search in Taal Lake in Batangas City to extend indefinitely. (File Photo: Department of Justice – Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – A lawyer of one of the contracting firms tagged by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the anomalous flood control projects has approached the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the possibility of being a “whistleblower” in the controversy.

“We welcome whistleblowers. We will meet again soon,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters in a press briefing.

According to Remulla, among the matters bared by the lawyer was how officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were able to access funds in state-owned Landbank that were used to pay contractors.

“He (lawyer) has given me an idea of what happened in one of the projects in Central Luzon; ghost projects worth PHP5 billion,” Remulla said.

“Nagbigay lang sa akin ng idea na yung contractor, ang kinuha 40 percent, ang taga DPWH, na-e-encash ang pera sa LandBank, kahit payable sa kontraktor (The lawyer just gave me an idea that the contractor can get up to 40 percent of the project, and the DPWH can encash money at the Landbank even if it is payable to the contractor),” he added.

Remulla said his office is monitoring the unfolding situation and noted that if any case reaches the Office of the Ombudsman, the same might be sent to the DOJ for case build-up.