Davao de Oro Second District Representative Leonel “Jhong” Ceniza is being dragged into the controversial “ghost” flood control projects after Senator Rodante Marcoleta alerted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to look into several companies, including R.A. Pahati Construction & Supply, Inc., during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry into the P545-billion worth of flood control projects last week.
Based on documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shared to Edge Davao, among the incorporators and directors of R.A. Pahati Construction and Supply are couple Jella Pahati Ceniza and Leonel Domo-ong Ceniza.
The company has a principal office in 283 Payawal Subd., San Lorenzo, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, with the primary purpose of business includes to engage in general construction business, including the constructing, enlarging, developing, or engaging in any work upon buildings, houses and condominiums, roads, plants, bridges, air fields, piers, waterworks, railroads, and other structures.
Ceniza’s name was also mentioned in Boldyakan’s page by Filipino-American vlogger Claire Contreras, also known online as Maharlika Boldyakera, on August 23, wherein she titled her post “The Pahati Pattern: Allegations of kickbacks, contracts, and political protection.”
Contreras shared in her post that in July 2023, she submitted a testimony in Bacudio v. Contreras before the U.S. District Court in California, and in her affidavit, Contreras alleged that fashion designer Avel Bacudio, with the help of his sister Jeyjette Zaballa, introduced Ceniza’s wife, Jelai Pahati, to Yeye Vivas, Chief of Staff to Ilocos Norte District 1 Congressman Sandro Marcos.
Contreras stated that “two confidential sources told her that Vivas assisted Pahati in securing a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contract, and that — again based on these unnamed sources — a bag containing P30 million was allegedly delivered to Bacudio as a “kickback.””
Contreras also mentioned that Pahati “cornered at least P1.41 billion in DPWH contracts between 2022 and 2025, including a P91.6 million river revetment project in Pantukan, Davao de Oro — awarded in December 2023, while the town was led by then-Mayor (now Representative) Jhong Ceniza.”
“These statements remain unproven, have not been tested in court, and neither Bacudio nor Pahati has responded to the specific claims raised in the U.S. filing,” Contreras added.
Contreras also mentioned that Ceniza received endorsements and support from Malacañang allies when he ran in Congress in the 2025 local and national midterm elections in May this year.
On October 23, 2024, The Mindanet Balita reported online that Rep. Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos expressed support in the congressional bid of Ceniza during a Lunch Fellowship hosted by Ceniza at the Conrad Hotel Manila.
According to the report, Rep. Marcos sent Vivas during the fellowship to personally announce to the barangay executives his support for “Batang Pantukan.”
Edge Davao contacted Ceniza for his comment about the issue but has not yet received a response from the lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Ceniza reacted to the issue and described it as “recycled” and was only used by his political opponents to smear his name and the construction company owned by her wife’s family amid the flood control projects controversy.
Ceniza made it clear in a media outlet in Davao de Oro (The Mindanet Balita) that when he first entered politics, he was already a legitimate contractor.
Referring to R.A. Pahati Construction, the construction firm owned by Ceniza’s mother-in-law, or Parent-in-Law, the congressman clarified that it was not involved in any ghost project in the government, no substandard projects, and no negative findings from the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Wala ta na apil sa naay ghost project, kung na mentioned dili tungod naay anomalya nga maoy ginapagawas sa mga napildi sa politika ug pangdaot lang sa maayong mga programa sa Distrito pinaagi sa dummy account,” Ceniza said.
