APRIL 7, 2026 — A P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan — declared “95 percent complete” in just 21 days — has become the centerpiece of graft and malversation charges against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., with NBI testimony and video evidence suggesting the project was far from finished.

When NBI agent Ivan Bernard Samson took the stand at the Sandiganbayan, he didn’t mince words. He said that the “notice to proceed” was issued on April 8, 2025, and by April 29, the project was supposedly 95.17 percent complete. Samson called that timeline “questionable,” noting that such construction could take up to 270 days. His own footage from September 2025 showed nothing but a muddy riverside — hardly the image of a nearly finished flood control structure.

By November, Samson said he saw capping beams being installed, but the progress was nowhere near the official claim. 

“I agree, your honor. That is not 95 percent [complete],” he told Justice Ronald Moreno.

Revilla faces two cases: graft, for which he posted a P90,000 bail, and malversation, which is non-bailable — keeping him behind bars since January. Prosecutors allege he and six others conspired to release P76 million for the project, which was never implemented. The contract was awarded in March 2025, while Revilla was still a senator.

Adding fuel to the fire, former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that in 2024 he delivered P125 million to Revilla’s residence, with another P250 million allegedly sent before the 2025 elections. Revilla dismissed these claims as “hearsay,” but Bernardo is now a state witness.

This case, yet again, is a mirror of how public funds meant for flood control, a lifeline in typhoon-prone areas such as Bulacan, can vanish into thin air. Imagine the frustration of residents still wading through floods while millions are allegedly pocketed or wasted. 

These “ghost projects” aren’t just about a handful of so-called public servants but about the ghosts haunting our governance — projects declared complete on paper but invisible on the ground.

One can’t help but wonder, how many more ghost projects are hiding in plain sight, draining resources while communities suffer? How long will we keep tolerating leaders who treat public funds like personal treasure chests?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)