Former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo has filed graft and malversation complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Caloocan 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio over several allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects in the city.
Malonzo claimed the complaint covers multiple public works projects that were allegedly ghost, non-existent, overpriced, or padded, involving millions of pesos in public funds.
Among the projects cited was a P6.7-million road and drainage rehabilitation project in Carmelite Village, Barangay 187, which Malonzo alleged had “zero physical footprint.”
The complaint also questioned a supposed P19.2-million flood control structure in Barangay 187, which Malonzo claimed did not exist. He further alleged that digitally manipulated photographs were used in the project documentation.
Also included was a P11.7-million road construction project in Barangay 159, which allegedly relied on unrelated photographs to conceal the supposed absence of actual construction work.
Malonzo also flagged a P2.9-million building project in Barangay 177, which he claimed falsely presented a minor renovation of a homeowners’ association office as a newly completed covered court.
The former mayor also accused the respondents of “location fraud” involving a P19.2-million project in Rivera Bukid. He alleged that photographs taken in Barangay 159 were used to justify work supposedly carried out in Barangay 163.
The complaint also cited two allegedly overpriced projects in Barangay 187. These include a P9.6-million day care center project that Malonzo claimed was reduced to superficial renovation work, and a P9.7-million covered court rehabilitation project that allegedly involved replacing fewer than 25 roofing sheets supposedly worth only about P150,000.
Malonzo asked the Ombudsman to investigate the projects and determine possible criminal and administrative liability.
As of writing, Asistio’s camp has yet to issue an official statement on the allegations.