Ombudsman urged to probe flood control projects

Journalist Ben Tulfo, representing his media outfit BITAG Media Unlimited Inc., has filed a letter-request to the Office of the Ombudsman asking the anti-graft body to start its own investigation on the alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

"I am writing this letter to earnestly request your good Office to motu proprio conduct an immediate, urgent and honest-to-goodness investigation on what is turning out to be the worst corruption scandal in this country," Tulfo, chief executive officer of BITAG and the founder of its help desk arm ipaBITAGmo Inc., said.

Tulfo admitted that he had been vocal on social media in questioning the ombudsman's silence and seeming inaction on the controversy despite President Marcos himself baring the irregularities in the DPWH flood control projects to the point of naming the top 15 contractors who have cornered majority of contracts worth around P100 billion from July 2022 to May 2025.

"This presidential action alone, we believe, is sufficient to warrant a motu proprio action by your good Office," Tulfo said.