Surigao del Norte lawmaker, son face probe over P80-M road project

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco “Lalo” Matugas and his son Francisco “Bingo” Matugas II are facing complaints for graft and malversation of public funds over an P80-million road project that allegedly remained unfinished yet reported on paper as complete, with the contractor already paid in full.

This was according to the spokesperson of the Office of the Ombudsman, who said the filing of the complaints was recommended by the now-deactivated Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the body created by President Marcos in September 2025 to investigate public works anomalies.

‘65-70% accomplished’

Also included as respondents were several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and officers of the private contractor Boometrix Development Corp.

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READ: Matugas welcomes ICI review, vows full cooperation with Ombudsman

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Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Friday said a preliminary investigation is under way on the allegations against the Matugases, the DPWH personnel and Boometrix officers regarding the P80.61-million Mahayhay-Tuburan Road project in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.

According to Clavano, the project has been declared complete by the DPWH officials, allowing Boometrix to collect full payment.

However, a site inspection conducted in April by the Office of the Ombudsman found it “only 65 to 70 percent accomplished.”

“The matter now proceeds to preliminary investigation,” Clavano said at a press conference. “No finding of guilt has been made at this stage.”

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House, AMLC notified

Aside from the proceedings at the Ombudsman, the agency’s investigators have notified the House committee on ethics and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the complaints against Lalo Matugas, he added.

The respondents will soon be ordered to respond to the complaints, Clavano said.

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There was no immediate reply from Representative Matugas when the Inquirer asked for comment.

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But in a statement last year, when the ICI made the recommendation for the filing, the lawmaker maintained there were no records that would link him to any financial interest and contractual involvement in the project.

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But Clavano on Friday said investigators have also documented P457.13 million in loans between the Matugases and Boometrix, which he said supports the conclusion that both father and son held direct pecuniary interests in the company. /cb