The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it would cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman as it investigates alleged irregularities in government-funded technology and connectivity projects.
The department said it would formally write to the Ombudsman and provide records, technical information, and other assistance needed for the investigation.
“Any allegation involving non-performing systems, misrepresented project deliverables, or the misuse of public funds must be thoroughly examined and addressed in accordance with the law,” the DICT said in a media statement sent Saturday.
The statement came after Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano announced a fact-finding investigation into alleged “ghost internet” projects involving the department, according to an ABS-CBN News report.
Clavano said project inspectors may confirm that routers and other equipment were delivered without checking whether the required software was installed. This could allow contractors to use cheaper, outdated, or counterfeit software while charging the government the full contract price.
The Ombudsman has not publicly identified the projects, contractors, or officials covered by the investigation.
DICT connectivity projects have faced scrutiny before. In 2021, then-Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra asked the Ombudsman to investigate the ₱1.36-billion Free Wi-Fi for All project involving the United Nations Development Programme and contractor Speedcast Limited, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The project was supposed to cover 6,000 locations in remote and underserved areas. The UNDP said 927 sites had been installed and activated as of May 30, 2021.
At DICT’s request, the UNDP terminated its contracts with Speedcast after the contractor encountered difficulties meeting deadlines. The UNDP published the figures and circumstances in its July 2021 project update.
The UNDP also returned about ₱284 million in unused funds to the department, the Philippine News Agency reported.
In March 2025, the DICT announced plans to overhaul the Free Wi-Fi program, saying the government was spending approximately ₱6.5 billion annually to serve more than 7,000 locations.
No official link has been established between those earlier issues and the latest Ombudsman investigation.