NBI seeks raps over 2 alleged Balamban ghost flood projects

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) has recommended the filing of criminal cases over two alleged ghost flood control projects in Balamban town in western Cebu.

NBI-7 Supervising Agent Gregorio Y. Algoso Jr. announced earlier this week that investigators had already completed their investigation into the two projects in Barangay Singsing and forwarded the case for evaluation under the government’s anti-ghost project task force.

Under the process, the NBI first endorses its findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which evaluates the evidence before deciding whether to elevate the case for prosecution.

“The case has been filed. As we all know, we are not allowed to directly file a case. You have to pass it on to the DOJ task force, then they will evaluate it and pass it to the commission. Then it is up to the commission to file,” Algoso said.

READ: NBI-7 uncovers two alleged ghost flood control projects in Balamban

He said the bureau had so far recommended two cases, both involving flood control projects in Barangay Singsing.

“So far, duha pa man, and it’s in the Balamban area, both in Barangay Singsing,” he said.

(So far, there are only two, and they’re in the Balamban area, both in Barangay Singsing)

Ghost projects

The investigation began in December 2025 after authorities received reports of irregularities involving two Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control contracts.

According to Algoso, investigators from the NBI-Mandaue District Office discovered that the geographic coordinates specified in one contract did not correspond to any existing flood control structure.

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Instead, the coordinates pointed to another location, prompting investigators to conduct a broader inquiry.

The probe eventually uncovered two alleged ghost projects.

However, Algoso said the DPWH maintained that one of the projects had been transferred to another barangay.

“As per DPWH, instead of building in this area, they transferred it to the next barangay, for whatever reasons or justifications they made. But on paper, it appears in this barangay. So it is up to them to justify it in court,” he said.

Contractors, DPWH personnel included

Algoso said the NBI’s recommendation covered everyone involved in implementing the projects.

“Everybody involved, the contractors and the DPWH personnel,” he said.

READ: Flood control: Cebu needs watershed-based solutions, Project NOAH says

He clarified that investigators had not implicated any politicians so far and stressed that the investigation remains evidence-driven.

The bureau said it continued gathering additional evidence while awaiting the DOJ’s evaluation.

DOJ to decide

Although the NBI has completed its recommendation, the filing of criminal charges will ultimately depend on the DOJ’s assessment of the evidence.

Algoso said there had been no significant developments since the cases were endorsed to the proper authorities.

Wider crackdown

The Balamban investigation is part of the national government’s intensified crackdown on alleged ghost infrastructure projects, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to audit public works after severe flooding raised questions about the implementation of flood control projects across the country.

Earlier this year, the NBI reported that it had uncovered alleged ghost flood-control projects in Cebu and continued to expand its investigation to determine whether additional anomalous or substandard projects warranted criminal prosecution.

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