Manila: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) announced on Monday that it plans to file more than a dozen cases before the Ombudsman in the coming weeks, targeting ghost flood control projects. The commission revealed that at least 15 referrals are prepared to be filed within the next two to three weeks.

According to Philippines News Agency, ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka disclosed that there are 421 suspected ghost flood control projects throughout the country. These include 261 in Luzon, 109 in the Visayas, and 51 in Mindanao. The data was drawn from an evaluation of 8,000 flood control projects initiated between 2018 and 2024, with validation carried out by the armed forces, the police, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Most of the alleged ghost projects are located in Central Luzon, with 67 projects, followed by the Bicol Region with 49 projects, and Eastern Visayas with 45 projects. In Mindanao, 30 projects in the Davao region are currently under evaluation. The ICI outlined that after the initial field evaluations, the next steps will include technical inspections and audits of documentation to build cases comprehensively.

Once the cases are drafted and filed with the Ombudsman, the process will continue with applications for immigration lookout bulletin orders. The cases will also be referred to the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Civil Service Commission, Professional Regulatory Commission, and the Insurance Commission (IC) for further action.

Meanwhile, Department of Justice officer-in-charge Fredderick Vida called on the public to maintain trust in government processes and adhere to the rule of law. Vida emphasized the importance of allowing government institutions to function without shortcuts, warning that bypassing procedures could lead to complications. He reiterated that the appropriate cases would be filed in coordination with the Ombudsman and ICI in the coming weeks.