Gov't execs may be behind dummy contractor firms

At least three contractors involved in the multibillion-peso flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are not the true owners of the companies, with government officials "possibly" behind the firms, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS, Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores

Sotto said the use of dummies appears prevalent beyond the top 15 flood control contractors currently under fire for alleged anomalous projects.

He stressed that many other projects appear to be anomalous but are not currently in the spotlight.

"They don't have ghost projects; maybe flood control rackets filled with corruption. We are really aware of this (in the Senate)," Sotto said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.

He said there are other contractors that may not be dummies but are similarly shady.

Sotto said he could be ready to name them on Monday when the Senate Blue Ribbon committee resumes its probe into flood control anomalies.

Pressed on whether active government officials could be behind these companies, Sotto said: "Possible.