MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday, May 21, sued several regional public works officials and contractors for graft and malversation over P94-million worth of “ghost” farm-to-market road projects in Davao Occidental.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the filing at the Ombudsman on Thursday.

“Wala akong nakita,” Tiu Laurel told reporters about his visit to the project sites, saying there were only dirt roads. “Walang semento, walang bakal. Wala lahat.” (I didn’t see anything. There’s no cement, no steel. Nothing at all.)

Among the respondents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) are Rodrigo Larete, Joel Lumogdang, Michael Awa, Jafel Faunillan, and Czar Ryan Ubungen. They were the district and project engineers, quality assurance officer, and finance chief, respectively.

The DA said the respondents falsified documents such as certificates of payment and disbursement vouchers to make the projects appear completed. These projects were funded in 2021.

“Walang pulitiko na respondent (No politician is a respondent),” Tiu Laurel clarified. “We’re just following the money trail.”

Asked if there was collusion between DA and DPWH officials over these ghost projects, Tiu Laurel said: “Well there’s always that possibility, ‘no. Kaya Iniimbestigahan pa namin ‘yan eh. We gave them a deadline to reply actually a few days ago. Yung aming mga tao.“

(Well there’s always that possibility, ‘no. That’s why we’re still investigating it. We gave them a deadline to reply actually a few days ago. Our personnel.)

The agriculture department has started cracking down on ghost and substandard farm-to-market roads since the flood control scandal revealed abuses and corruption over infrastructure projects.

Because of the scandal, the DA has taken charge of farm-to-market road projects from the DPWH. Around P33 billion has been allotted for the construction and maintenance of these road projects in 2026.

According to Tiu Laurel, the agency needs to visit around 4,500 farm-to-market road project sites across the country. They have so far completed visits to 1,241 sites. – Rappler.com