The Office of the Ombudsman suspended three Department of Public Works and Highways officials over alleged ghost farm-to-market road projects worth P94 million in Davao Occidental, Philstar.com reported on October 30, 2026. A suspension lasting no longer than six months was ordered for James Ryan Jabonero, Jonathan Relacion, and Zesrel Cuga while the proceedings remain ongoing.
How the Alleged Scheme Unraveled
Other respondents avoided suspension because they had already left public service. Records show that five officials were dismissed in June 2026, while one retired in May of the previous year.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel first filed charges of graft and corrupt practices, malversation, and falsification of public documents against the respondents in May 2026. The agriculture department uncovered a pattern across eight farm-to-market road projects. The filings state that the officials allegedly worked together to turn in falsified vouchers, Statements of Work Accomplished, and Project Status Reports in order to obtain government funds for non-existent public works.
The complaints also named private contractors Allen Borbon of Adan Builders Co., alongside Marvin Lata Cumbe and Honorio Cumbe of HVC Sagittarius Commercial & Construction.
Watchdogs Flag Budget Insertions for Agriculture and Infrastructure Projects
Farm-to-market roads help farmers move goods efficiently and may contribute to lower food prices by easing supply issues. Following probes into incomplete, overpriced, and nonexistent FMRs tied to the DPWH, the Department of Agriculture took over principal management of these initiatives at the beginning of 2026.
Civil society watchdogs and sectoral alliances have raised concerns over amendments introduced in the House version of the proposed 2027 national budget, which include funding insertions for infrastructure projects managed by both departments as well as the Department of Health and the National Irrigation Administration. The nearly P180 billion allocation allegedly originated from reallocations that cut funds from health initiatives, the EDSA Busway, calamity reserves, and foreign-supported projects.
The bicameral conference committee will convene to reconcile conflicting provisions in the House and Senate versions of the bill after the Senate concludes its plenary debates scheduled for November.
