NBI Probes Alleged 'Ghost' Flood Control Projects in Taguig

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now investigating the alleged “ghost” flood control projects in Taguig City, the bailiwick of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, according to Director Melvin Matibag. This came after Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier said he was counting on informants and witnesses to provide evidence against Cayetano “to put [him] in his proper place — the Payatas, QC jail.” “We’re already investigating,” Matibag told reporters in an ambush interview on Monday when asked if the NBI would also probe the flood control projects of Cayetano when he was still a congressman. “In 2022, he had 11 projects there that were somehow related to the top 15 named contractors. We will investigate them…But since you asked, you might say it’s all about the timing again. Anyway, it’s already public because Sen. Lacson mentioned it. So, I think we should mention it,” he added. READ: Cayetano to Lacson: No ghost projects in Taguig; don’t single us out Earlier, Cayetano criticized the NBI for investigating alleged funding irregularities involving the sports complex in New Clark City, Tarlac, used during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, instead of the alleged flood control anomalies in the country. Cayetano chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, the private foundation tasked with organizing the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. READ: DOJ, Palace backing NBI plan to dig up SEA Games hosting issue The senator questioned the “timing” of the bureau’s investigation, noting that Matibag is scheduled to testify on Tuesday in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. /mcm