21/10/2025
ZALDY CO STRIKES AT THE PHILIPPINE ARMY WITH GHOST PROJECT IN ILOILO CAMP IN THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF REP. JANETTE LORETO-GARIN!
With controversy now gripping Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin over an unfinished multi-purpose building (arena) in Tigbauan, Iloilo, another scandal has erupted in her face, this time a ghost project of former Ako Bicol party list Rep. Zaldy Co.
Bombo Radyo Iloilo reported last week its discovery of a DPWH contract awarded to Sunwest, Inc., the construction firm linked to Co, for the construction of “various facilities” inside Camp Monteclaro, headquarters of the 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion, in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
The contract with a cost of P15,267,483.27 was awarded to Sunwest, Inc. by the DPWH regional office on August 20, 2024. Its target date of completion was January 21, 2025.
But nothing is visible on the camp premises that matches the description of Zaldy Co’s project. In short, it is a ghost project.
What makes the anomaly more appalling is that DPWH, through another contractor, had just completed a P96 million project in Camp Monteclaro through representations made by Garin with the Department of National Defense and DPWH.
Both projects were just supposed to be next to each other.
But Garin feigned ignorance about the project. Co didn’t inform her about it, she told Bombo Radyo Iloilo in an interview. Neither did the DPWH regional office.
Garin’s lame alibi is one of those “Tell it to the Marines” stories that is simply incredible. A blatant lie.
For how can it escape her attention and knowledge when it is common knowledge DPWH officials at the regional and district offices routinely coordinate with each other on “cross-over” projects.
Moreover, Garin had a project in the same location that was implemented almost at the same time. In fact, Garin’s project commenced on May 8, 2024 while Co’s started August 20, 2024. It is ridiculously improbable that Garin would not have known.
Moreover, Garin’s husband, Oscar Richard, Jr., is the municipal mayor of Miag-ao, and Camp Monteclaro is just a 10-minute drive from the municipal hall, according to local residents.
What is more puzzling is Garin’s nonchalant reaction during the Bombo Radyo Iloilo interview that we watched.
She did not seem upset at all that a ghost project was discovered in her turf. She just said she will look into it as if it was just a lost-and-found report that was brought to her attention. No big deal, that's what we observed with her reaction.
There is a far greater implication to this discovery.
It opens up the possibility that Co, acting upon the instructions of former Speaker Martin Romualdez, had raided a far larger share of the national treasury during the last two or three years.
We can be certain that this ghost project at the Philippine Army camp in Miag-ao, Iloilo is not an isolated case. There can be more such projects that were devoured by the jaws of the Romualdez corruption machine.
And it could expand to farm to market roads, school buildings, barangay clinics and other infrastructure. Indeed, this monster has an insatiable appetite, and the Filipino people must slay it.
Rigoberto D. Tiglao Inday Sara Duterte Benjie Magalong - Public Servant Isidro Ungab B**g Go Kiko Barzaga PDP Laban Joie De Vivre Every Other Day Rowena Guanzon Dr. Janette Loreto-Garin Tom Berenguer Albee Benitez