The controversy over ghost flood control projects deepens — and this time, it’s reaching the halls of Congress.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Thursday named Benguet Representative Eric Yap as a “person of interest” in connection with fully paid but unfinished flood control projects in La Union — projects built by a construction firm he once owned.
According to Remulla, Yap’s name surfaced as part of a wider investigation into alleged anomalies involving hundreds of millions of pesos in public funds.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Remulla also revealed that ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap, Eric’s brother, and Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto allegedly received large sums of money through bank transfers from contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, whose companies have been tied to ghost and substandard flood control projects.
“A person of interest here is Congressman Eric Yap, who is known to be the beneficial owner of the company,” Remulla said, referring to Silverwolves Construction, the firm behind the La Union projects.
“He supposedly divested years ago, but there’s reason to suspect he’s still the beneficial owner — a clear case of conflict of interest,” he added.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already filed formal complaints against 21 officials and two contractors before the Ombudsman. These involve ₱96.5 million worth of ghost projects in Davao Occidental and two phases of the La Union flood control project worth ₱89.7 million each.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the Davao project was never completed, despite being fully paid years ago.
“The construction there only began last August — three years after the supposed completion. It’s clearly a ghost project,” Dizon said.
“Meanwhile, the La Union project is also substandard — again, fully paid but not finished,” he added.
Remulla said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has already provided data linking the lawmakers to suspicious transactions.
“We’ve received AMLC reports showing money transfers from the Discayas to Edvic Yap and Salvador Pleyto,” he said.
“There’s a clear pattern — the funds came directly from the contractors. Why would anyone send ₱70 million to a lawmaker if not because of a contract?”
Remulla described the transactions, which took place from 2019 to 2020, as clear signs that the lawmakers were “enmeshed in the movement of contracts.”
“Kasama sila sa pagkilos ng kontrata. Sila’y nakikialam at nakikisa,” he said, stressing the depth of their alleged involvement.
As of now, GMA News Online has reached out to all lawmakers mentioned by the Ombudsman and is awaiting their statements.
But one thing is certain — the flood project scandal has only begun to unravel. And as investigators dig deeper, the floodwaters of accountability may soon reach the highest levels of power.
