Miss Universe Philippines 2014 MJ Lastimosa is the latest public figure to weigh in on the ongoing Senate probe into the ₱5.9-billion ghost flood-control projects allegedly linked to Wawao Builders, Inc.
In an X post on Monday, Sept. 1, Lastimosa expressed suspicion over Mark Allan Arevalo, the man who appeared before senators claiming to be the firm’s owner.
“The owner of Wawao Builders na nanginginig sa hearing. Obviously is a dummy CEO,” Lastimosa wrote.
Her remark quickly drew mixed reactions online, with netizens echoing her doubts: “Hindi naman kasi siya ang owner. General Manager yun.”
“For sure isang politician ang mastermind d’yan. KILALA NATING LAHAT!”
“Uso naman ’yan sa contractors na may dummy CEO o authorized manager. Not surprising.”
“You could see the fear—he kept glancing nervously at his cellphone. Obviously a front.”
The Senate probe was triggered after former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan revealed that several of Wawao’s awarded projects in Bulacan were “ghost projects.”
“In Bulacan alone, Wawao Builders had 85 projects amounting to ₱5.9 billion… There seems to be some ghost projects,” Bonoan testified.
His statement was later affirmed by DPWH Undersecretary for Planning Services Maria Catalina Cabral, who, when pressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, said:
“Yes po, Your Honor,” confirming Bonoan’s claim.
