00:00The NTF-ELCAC or the Barangay Development Program in Iloilo, certain groups led by Bayan Panay have circulated statements by
00:09Victor Panigob claiming that 16 projects in Tubungan, Leon, and Ibaras are ghost projects and that the provincial government and
00:21the NTF-ELCAC engaged in corruption.
00:24Our reply is these claims are categorically false, legally irresponsible, and completely misrepresent the COA report.
00:37So for some basic items, the estimated cost to complete is not missing money.
00:46This $23.8 million highlighted in the 2025 COA report is the estimated funding requirement needed to finish the 29
01:01ongoing or delayed projects, including 16 projects facing funding dumps.
01:08COA did not state, but this amount was stolen, pocketed, or diverted.
01:17And also, they have stated, an estimated cost of completion with missing public funds is outright deception.
01:32Unfinished, number two, unfinished is not a ghost project.
01:37A ghost project means a non-existent project where money was pocketed for zero work.
01:45The projects cited exist on the ground as disclosed by the provincial engineer's office, being represented by General Cee and
01:57General Lazarito, as early as September 2023.
02:01These sites, ang ako ng mga project sa NTF-ELCAC, are in geographically isolated, and these are used to be
02:10rebel-infested areas.
02:12Multidose areas, created by severe weather disturbances, terrain bottlenecks, and contractor supply delays.
02:31Number three, 196 million returned to the national treasury.
02:37We received an advisory from DBM that excess money once the project has been, the funding has been terminated.
02:47We returned the money to the national treasury.
02:50I signed the check.
02:51The critics alleged that funds were pocketed.
02:56If that were true, why did we, the IPG, legally and transparently return approximately 196 million in unused national allocations
03:09back to the national treasury?
03:11Returning unspent allocations to the national coffers is the exact opposite of corruption.
03:20It is strict and guidelines to public finance laws.
03:25It is strict and hinders to public finance laws.
