Former Cebu 3rd District congressman Pablo John “PJ” Garcia denied allegations that two P80 million flood control projects in Barangay Singsing, Balamban, were “ghost projects,” maintaining they were completed and utilized.
The NBI 7 recommended criminal charges against two contractors and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials regarding the projects but found insufficient evidence to implicate any elected public officials.
Garcia attributed the controversy to a location dispute between the NBI and DPWH and requested a joint reinspection of the sites involving the NBI, DPWH, COA, and various observers.
FORMER Cebu 3rd District congressman Pablo John “PJ” Garcia has denied allegations that two flood control projects in the western town of Balamban were “ghost projects,” saying the structures were completed, turned over and used during floods.
Two projects in Barangay Singsing cost P80 million each. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 has recommended criminal charges against two contractors and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials over the alleged anomaly.
At the center of the issue is whether the projects existed as funded, or whether investigators and public works officials identified them differently because of their location along the same river.
NBI recommendation
NBI 7 Supervising Agent Gregorio Algoso told reporters on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, that the bureau had submitted its recommendation to the NBI Task Force on DPWH Flood Control Project Anomalies and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, covering the contractor and DPWH officials allegedly involved.
Algoso declined to give more details, saying only the task force and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are authorized to speak on the matter.
He said the two alleged ghost projects, worth P80 million each, were referred to the DOJ in December last year for preliminary proceedings.
Algoso said the NBI has not found enough evidence to implicate any elected officials in the alleged anomaly.
The recommendation, based on Algoso’s statement, covers contractors and DPWH officials.
Completed projects
In a Facebook post on Thursday, July 2, Garcia said the two flood control projects were fully implemented and completed. They were also turned over and accepted by the local government unit.
He said the projects had also been audited by the Commission on Audit (COA).
“They have already withstood flooding during typhoon Tino and they were neither destroyed nor washed away. They remain standing,” Garcia said in Cebuano.
Garcia said he is waiting for the DPWH to explain the matter, saying he wants to respect the agency.
Based on information he said he obtained from the DPWH 3rd District Engineering Office, Garcia said the two projects were among those initially inspected and monitored.
Location dispute
Garcia said the issue appears to come from differing positions between the NBI and the DPWH on the exact location of the projects.
According to him, the DPWH geotagging application showed that the projects are in Barangay Singsing, Balamban. He said that matches the project title listed in the General Appropriations Act.
Garcia said the NBI believes the projects extend several meters into the adjacent Barangay Cantuod, also in Balamban, although they are along the same river.
He said both projects were used during a typhoon and heavy flooding.
“That is not the definition of a ‘ghost project,’” he said.
Call for reinspection
Garcia called for a reinspection by the NBI, DPWH and COA. He also proposed that members of the media, civil society groups, bloggers and other concerned citizens be invited to witness the inspection.
He said this would be better than relying on speculation over whether the projects exist.
“Maghinay-hinay kita paggamit nianang termino nga (Let’s be careful about using the term) ‘ghost project’ because it is a highly charged and emotional term, and careers of professional civil servants are at stake,” Garcia said.
“Pasagdi na lang kaming mga politiko, kay (Just leave us politicians alone because) our reputations are, deservedly or not, already tarnished by damaged political institutions. It is the career civil servants’ careers and futures, however, that we should protect from unwarranted accusations,” he added. / AYB
