Ombudsman moves on Davao flood projects hours after Tinio complaint
A memorandum from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) directing district engineering officials to comply with subpoenas issued by the Office of the Ombudsman has surfaced just hours after ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio formally sought a probe into alleged flood control anomalies in Davao City.
The memorandum, addressed to Davao de Oro 1st District Engineer Rogelio T. Anghag and Davao City Assistant District Engineer Emilio P. Sucaldito Jr., instructed the officials to submit “two clear and certified true copies” of documents related to 80 flood control projects along the Davao and Matina rivers allegedly awarded from 2019 to 2022.
The directive cited subpoenas issued by the Office of the Ombudsman under reference numbers FF-C-JAN-26-0057, FF-C-JAN-26-0058, and FF-C-JAN-26-0063, in connection with House Resolution No. 464.
The memorandum stated that the order originated from the DPWH Central Office through a May 4, 2026 communication from Atty. Gliricidia C. Tumaluan-Ali, CESO III, which was received on May 11 and forwarded to concerned offices.
The document surfaced hours after Tinio announced that he would personally submit documents and materials to the Ombudsman seeking an investigation into Davao flood control projects.
The timing immediately triggered speculation, with some officials questioning whether the actions were “coordinated.” Observers note that the sequence of events “raises serious political questions.”
“Clearly, may budget talaga at coordinated ang galaw nila. Tinio holds a press conference in the morning, then suddenly there is already an Ombudsman subpoena moving through agencies involving the exact same issue,” the source said.
The same source argued that the projects being questioned were part of broader infrastructure and flood mitigation efforts implemented during the Duterte administration and inspected by government agencies.
Records from DPWH showed completed projects in Davao City from 2020 to 2022 amounted to almost P50 billion that include roads, drainage systems, bridges, and flood mitigation works.
Supporters of Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte also questioned why Tinio was focusing heavily on Davao while allegedly remaining silent on what they described as “the biggest corruption controversies” involving the current national leadership.
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