The Commission on Audit (COA) has filed four more fraud audit reports with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), uncovering fresh cases of ghost projects and mismatched sites involving flood control projects in Bulacan.
In a press statement released Friday, COA said the newly flagged projects – worth a combined total of over P309 million – were all under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO), and involved the contractors SYMS Construction Trading, a joint venture between L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. and M3 Konstract Corporation, and Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading.
Same contractor, same pattern
Two of the projects were awarded to SYMS Construction Trading. One was a flood control structure supposedly built along the Balagtas River in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas (P46.35 million). The other was a slope protection project along the Maycapiz-Taliptip River in Barangay Perez, Bulakan (P92.59 million).
In both cases, COA found no structures at the approved sites. Instead, DPWH officials pointed auditors to different locations – with no explanation – and failed to provide critical documents validating the projects.
At one of the mismatched sites, COA found exposed steel bars and unsuitable materials. In the other, there was no trace of any completed structure despite the project being reported as 100 percent accomplished and fully paid.
Those found liable include District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, and several other DPWH officials and project engineers, as well as SYMS Construction Trading’s Sally N. Santos.
Flawed pinpointing, flawed bridge
The third project was awarded to a joint venture between L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. and M3 Konstract Corporation, amounting to P96.49 million. The contract covered a riverbank protection structure and a concrete bridge in Barangay Piel, Baliuag.
COA noted that satellite imagery from February 29, 2024 – barely three weeks after the contract’s effectivity – already showed a pre-existing structure at the site. Yet during a September 2025 inspection, DPWH officials led auditors to a different location.
COA found that even at this alternate site, the structure ‘utterly failed to meet the project specifications.’ Once again, no key supporting documents were submitted.
Those flagged include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, and multiple engineers from the Bulacan 1st DEO, as well as the joint venture’s Luisito R. Tiquia and its board members.
No work, no structure
The fourth project – a P74.11-million riverbank protection structure in Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy – was awarded to Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading.
COA said there were no signs of any structure or even construction activity at the approved location, despite the project’s October 2024 completion deadline having long passed.
Among those held liable are Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, and Darcy Kimel D. Respicio, owner and manager of the contractor.
Criminal, administrative raps to follow
The state auditors stressed that the individuals involved may face criminal charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for malversation and falsification under the Revised Penal Code, and for violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
COA said these findings will assist the ICI in its ongoing probe into irregularities in public infrastructure spending. ‘More individuals may be held liable as the audit progresses, and new information becomes available,’ the agency added
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing accountability. ‘COA’s action shows its firm commitment to protect public money and enforce accountability in government spending,’ the statement read.
This latest batch of reports brings the total number of COA’s fraud audit submissions to 25, nine to the Office of the Ombudsman and 12 to the ICI. More are expected in the coming weeks, in line with Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba’s directive last August for a full audit of DPWH flood control projects in Bulacan between July 1, 2022 and May 30, 2025.