NBI files complaints vs Davao contractor linked to Dutertes
MANILA, Philippines – Weeks after starting its investigation into Genesis88 Construction Inc., the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed complaints against its owner, Glenn Escandor, and six others, including Genesis88 employees and former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Davao City District Engineering Office.
On Tuesday, October 13, the NBI filed falsification by public officer and graft complaints against Escandor and the following:
- Saturnino Bentulan – authorized managing officer, Genesis88
- Benjamin Zosa – project engineer, Genesis 88
- Roy Bohol – construction foreman, Genesis 88
- Richard Ragasa – former district engineer, DPWH Davao City District Engineering Office
- Lilibeth Sarmiento – former assistant district engineer, DPWH Davao City District Engineering Office
- Roberto Mamaril – former OIC-chief, Construction Section, DPWH Davao City District Engineering Office
The complaints came after the NBI started looking into the P1.9-billion flood control projects awarded to Genesis88, located in the district of Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte. Escandor, the Dutertes’ longtime friend, is the owner of the firm, based on Securities and Exchange Commission records obtained by Rappler in 2025.
A Rappler investigation revealed that one in four flood control projects in Davao City was awarded to Genesis88. The years when it bagged the contracts coincided with the time when Rodrigo Duterte was president and when the younger Duterte was the lawmaker representing the 1st District of Davao City.
Almost P2.9 billion (or P2,890,690,550.13) worth of contracts for flood control infrastructure from 2021 to 2023 went to the firm, based on figures from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. This translated to a total of 35 projects — solo contracting and joint ventures with other firms included — in the region.
Escandor was former president Duterte’s assistant for sports. He also owns the Escandor Development Corporation, which donated P19.923 million for the ads of Vice President Sara Duterte during the 2022 national elections, according to the Vice President’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures seen by Rappler. – with reports from Jairo Bolledo/Rappler.com
