Kawit, Cavite – A flood control project in Kawit, Cavite, where residents have long struggled with chronic flooding under Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo’s administration, is among those awarded to Legacy Construction Corp., a firm now at the center of a widening scandal over alleged “ghost projects.”
Legacy, owned by businessman Alex Abelido, secured a P94-million-peso contract in Kawit in May, part of more than P1.6 billion pesos in flood control projects bagged by the company over six months, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) records reviewed by Metro Manila media.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said initial findings suggest many of Legacy’s flood works, including those in Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Cebu and Romblon, were either incomplete or nonexistent.
Despite this, the firm emerged as the biggest contractor for the DPWH under Marcos’s term, overtaking industry heavyweights through what officials describe as preferential treatment linked to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Kawit is no stranger to flooding. Storm surges, high tides and heavy rains frequently submerge barangays, forcing residents to rely on temporary evacuation centers.
Aguinaldo, a scion of the political clan that traces its roots to Philippine independence leader Emilio Aguinaldo, has repeatedly promised long-term flood solutions.
After nine years as Mayor, nothing happened to fix Kawit floodings.
The latest contract with Legacy was meant to reinforce those pledges.
Abelido, meanwhile, has drawn public attention for his ostentatious lifestyle.
He owns a Malibu home, a Fifth Avenue penthouse in New York, a private jet and a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce.
His girlfriend, Maria, showcases luxury jewelry, designer bags and lavish trips on Instagram.
The scandal is expected to reach the Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee, with Senator Rodante Marcoleta urging Abelido to testify.
Lawmakers and watchdogs have described the controversy as one of the most brazen cases of alleged misuse of public funds.
Discover more from Cavite News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
