Floods of Cash, Rivers of Lies: SYMS and DPWH’s ₱1-Billion Vanishing Act

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — August 26, 2025

IMAGINE President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., swaggering onto a Baliwag, Bulacan riverbank on August 20, 2025, ready to bask in the glory of a ₱55-million flood-control masterpiece, dutifully stamped “completed” by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Instead, he’s greeted by… nothing. Not a single hollow block, just a gaping void where taxpayer money was supposed to stand tall against floods. This isn’t a mere oversight; it’s a billion-peso magic trick orchestrated by SYMS Construction Trading, with DPWH officials as eager accomplices. Welcome to the Bulacan ghost projects scandal—a pulse-pounding saga of corruption so brazen it could headline a crime thriller. Who’s got their sticky fingers in the public purse? Let’s tear the veil off this bureaucratic circus.

The Smoking Gun: A ₱55-Million Phantom Wall

The Manila Times dropped a bombshell: SYMS Construction Trading, a contractor already infamous for “ghost projects,” somehow snagged 16 DPWH flood-control contracts worth ₱1 billion in Bulacan. Fourteen solo gigs, two with Wawao Builders, and 12 tagged “completed” in 2024 alone. The kicker? Many of these projects are as real as a politician’s tears. The President’s inspection revealed a ₱55-million riverwall that was pure fiction—a discovery so infuriating he threw around “economic sabotage” threats and froze infra funds. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, sweating under Senate spotlights, admitted to “ghost projects” and axed district officials, promising probes. Baliwag’s local officials, meanwhile, played the “who, us?” card, claiming the project “skipped” their oversight. Skipped? That’s not a loophole; it’s a heist.

This isn’t a one-off. Senate hearings peg over ₱500 billion in dodgy flood-control projects nationwide from 2022 to 2025. While Bulacan’s rivers rage, someone’s building beachfront villas with public cash. Let’s carve up the legal carnage.

Shredding the Paper Trail: A Legal Bloodbath

This scandal is a smorgasbord of violations, each more audacious than the last. Here’s the charge sheet, backed by ironclad statutes and Supreme Court rulings that shred flimsy defenses.

1. Bid-Splitting and Collusion (RA 9184, Sec. 65)

Sixteen contracts, many with near-identical amounts differing by pocket change? That’s bid-splitting, a blatant violation of RA 9184, Section 65(b), banning contract division to evade competitive bidding. Penalties include up to seven years in jail and blacklisting under GPPB rules. Repeated awards to SYMS, a known ghost-project peddler, suggest rigged specs or post-qualification fraud, punishable under Section 65(a). Lagoc v. Malaga (G.R. No. 184785, 2014) slams BAC members for bid-rigging. Defenses like “we followed protocol” are laughable when the pattern screams conspiracy.

2. Graft and Undue Injury (RA 3019, Sec. 3(e)/(g))

Shelling out ₱55 million for a non-existent wall is RA 3019, Section 3(e) in neon lights: causing undue injury through manifest partiality, bad faith, or gross negligence. That’s up to seven years in prison and a lifetime ban from office. Section 3(g) piles on for grossly disadvantageous contracts—paying for air qualifies. Alvizo v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. Nos. 98494-98692, July 17, 2003) nails it: certifying fake accomplishments for payment is graft. The Arias defense (“I trusted my team”) gets obliterated by Lihaylihay v. People (G.R. 191219, 2013), demanding scrutiny when red flags like missing walls or identical bids wave.

3. Falsification (RPC, Art. 171–172)

Tagging a project “completed” with nothing on the ground? That’s falsification under RPC Article 171 (public officers) or Article 172 (private parties), carrying up to six years in jail. Forged Accomplishment Reports or Certificates of Completion are legal kryptonite. Grefalde v. Sandiganbayan G.R. No. 136502, December 15, 2000) sent officials to the slammer for fake certifications. SYMS and DPWH insiders can’t dodge this by claiming ignorance—using falsified docs is a crime.

4. Malversation (RPC, Art. 217, 220; PD 1445)

Diverting ₱1 billion for ghosts screams malversation under RPC Article 217 (up to life imprisonment) or technical malversation (Article 220) if funds were misapplied. PD 1445, Section 106 demands accurate reporting, and COA Circular 2009-006 flags irregular payments. Lozada v. Commission on Audit (G.R. No. 230383, July 13, 2021) holds certifiers solidarily liable for restitution. “Force majeure” excuses? Dead when the site’s a wasteland.

5. Plunder (RA 7080)

A ₱1-billion haul across 16 contracts smells like plunder under RA 7080. Estrada v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. 148560, 2001) sets the bar: a series of overt acts netting ₱50 million in ill-gotten wealth. SYMS’s track record and ghost completions check every box. Bank trails could seal a life sentence.

6. Money Laundering (RA 9160)

If SYMS funneled loot through shell companies, RA 9160‘s anti-money laundering rules apply, with up to 14 years in prison. Public works fraud is a predicate crime, and the AMLC should be sniffing around.

Contract Patterns: The Smoking Ledger

Contract Year	Number of Contracts	Total Value (₱)	Red Flags
2022	1	~₱62.5M (est.)	“Completed” but suspect; SYMS history
2023	2	~₱125M (est.)	Near-identical amounts; “completed”
2024	12	~₱750M (est.)	Identical pricing; 12 “completed” but ghost (e.g., Baliwag)
Total	16	~₱1B	Collusion, bid-splitting, falsified completions

Liability Matrix: Who’s in the Crosshairs?

Actor	Charges	Theory of Case	Defenses (and Why They’re Doomed)
DPWH District Engineers/Resident Engineers	RA 3019 Sec. 3(e)/(g); RPC Art. 171/172; PD 1445	Signed off on ghost projects; paid for air	“Relied on contractors.” Lihaylihay (2013): zero works demands scrutiny.
BAC/TWG Members	RA 9184 Sec. 65; RA 3019 Sec. 3(e)	Rigged bids, favored SYMS, split contracts	“Checklist compliance.” Identical bids scream foul.
SYMS/Wawao Builders	RA 3019 (co-conspirator); RA 9184 Sec. 65; RPC Art. 172/315; RA 7080	Took ₱1B for nothing; colluded with insiders	“Delays, not fraud.” Baliwag’s empty site buries them.
DPWH Secretary Bonoan	RA 3019 Sec. 3(e) (negligence); RA 6713	Ignored red flags; failed oversight	Arias reliance; took action. COA reports weaken this.
President Marcos	None (absent evidence)	Political failure, not criminal	No direct role; acted via probes. Immune during tenure.
Gov. Fernando/Brgy. Capt. Marin	RA 3019 Sec. 3(e); RPC Art. 171 (if certified)	False certifications (if any)	“Skipped” oversight. RA 7160 demands vigilance; “bypass” no excuse.

The Arias Cop-Out: A Defense That Crumbles

DPWH officials will cling to Arias v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. 81563, 1989), whining they trusted subordinates’ reports. Sorry, that lifeboat’s sunk. Lihaylihay v. People (2013) gutted Arias: a missing ₱55-million wall and copy-paste contract amounts aren’t subtle hints—they’re sirens. Sison v. People (G.R. Nos. 170339, 170398-403, Mar. 9, 2010) seals it: paying for nothing is graft, no excuses. Bonoan’s admission of ghost projects and sacking of officials torpedoes “good faith.” Red flags were flying; they just waved back.

Plunder: The Jackpot of Corruption

The ₱1-billion haul across 16 contracts screams plunder under RA 7080. Estrada v. Sandiganbayan (2001) sets the bar: a series of overt acts netting ₱50 million in ill-gotten wealth. SYMS’s rap sheet, identical contract amounts, and ghost completions check every box. If the Ombudsman, per Lagoc v. Malaga (G.R. No. 184785, 2014), digs up bank trails linking SYMS to DPWH insiders, it’s life behind bars.

Local Officials: Bystanders or Silent Enablers?

Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando and Barangay Captain Danilo Marin are skating on thin ice. Baliwag’s “skipped oversight” claim suggests they didn’t certify completions, dodging RA 3019 or RPC falsification—for now. But RA 7160 (Local Government Code) demands local coordination, and Typoco v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 221857. August 16, 2017) burned barangay officials for fake certifications. If they issued “no objection” letters or co-signed inspections, they’re liable. “Bypass” isn’t a defense; it’s a failure that let ₱1 billion slip.

Prosecution Roadmap: Nailing the Culprits

This scandal demands a legal sledgehammer. Here’s the battle plan:

1. Ombudsman: Unleash the Hounds

File complaints against DPWH District Engineers, Resident Engineers, BAC members, and SYMS/Wawao for RA 3019 (graft), RA 9184 (bid-rigging), RPC Articles 171/172 (falsification), and RA 7080 (plunder) if kickbacks exceed ₱50 million. Seek preventive suspensions under RA 6770, Sec. 24. Cagang (2018) makes probable cause a low hurdle.

2. COA: Claw Back the Loot

Issue Notices of Disallowance for all 16 contracts under PD 1445 and COA Circular 2009-006. Conduct forensic audits with geo-tagged inspections. Madera v. COA (2020) mandates restitution from certifiers and payors.

3. GPPB/DPWH: Ban the Bandits

Blacklist SYMS and Wawao under RA 9184, Sec. 65. Rescind contracts (Civil Code, Art. 1191), seize performance bonds, and demand damages. Publish contract docs per Open Data EOs.

4. DILG: Seal the LGU Loophole

Mandate LGU concurrence for national projects under RA 7160. Require barangay captains to co-sign pre-payment inspections. Baliwag’s “skipped” oversight is a warning—fix it.

5. AMLC: Chase the Cash

Probe SYMS’s accounts for money laundering under RA 9160. Ghost projects fund penthouses, not walls.

6. President Marcos: Drop the Hot Air, Deliver Justice

“Economic sabotage” sounds tough but isn’t a real charge. Suspend Bonoan, order a DPWH-wide audit, and fast-track Ombudsman cases. Prove you’re not just talk.

The Final Sting

The SYMS scandal is a billion-peso middle finger to every Filipino taxpayer. While Bulacan’s rivers overflow, SYMS and its DPWH cronies built castles in the clouds. The Ombudsman, COA, and Sandiganbayan must strike now, or this ghost story will haunt us again. Drag these phantoms to court and make them pay—every last peso.

Key Citations

RA 9184, Government Procurement Reform Act: Governs public bidding, prohibits bid-splitting (Sec. 65).
RA 3019, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act: Penalizes graft, undue injury (Sec. 3(e)/(g)).
RPC, Articles 171–172: Falsification by public officers or private individuals.
RA 7080, Anti-Plunder Act: Defines plunder for ill-gotten wealth over ₱50 million.
RA 9160, Anti-Money Laundering Act: Covers laundering of fraud proceeds.
PD 1445, Government Auditing Code: Mandates accurate financial reporting.
COA Circular 2009-006: Rules on infrastructure audits.
RA 6770, Ombudsman Act: Governs Ombudsman investigations, suspensions.
RA 7160, Local Government Code: Defines LGU duties.
Lagoc v. Malaga (G.R. No. 184785, 2014) – Slams BAC members for bid-rigging.
Alvizo v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. Nos. 98494-98692, July 17, 2003) – Certifying fake accomplishment reports is graft.
Typoco v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 221857. August 16, 2017)
Arias v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. 81563, 1989): Limits head-of-office liability.
Lihaylihay v. People (G.R. 191219, 2013): Demands scrutiny for obvious anomalies.
Lozada v. Commission on Audit (G.R. No. 230383, July 13, 2021) – – Solidary liability of certifiers.
Sison v. People (G.R. Nos. 170339, 170398-403, Mar. 9, 2010): Defines graft elements.
Estrada v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. 148560, 2001): Plunder via overt acts.
Cagang v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. 206438, 2018): Probable cause standards.
Madera v. COA (G.R. 224159, 2020): Restitution for disallowed funds.