Manila: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested different government agencies for a list of properties such as cars, water vessels, and aircraft registered in the names of the 26 DPWH officials and private company owners who are facing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Bulacan.
According to Philippines News Agency, in separate letters addressed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon asked the heads of these offices for a list of properties owned by individuals implicated in the multi-billion flood control mess. 'This request was made to prevent the dissipation, removal, or disposal of properties strongly suspected to be the proceeds of, or related to, unlawful activities, as defined under Section 3(i) of RA (Republic Act) No. 9160, as amended. Such preemptive action is necessary to safeguard assets from disposal and ensure that ongoing government efforts to combat corruption and money laundering are not undermined,' he stated in the letters.
Earlier, the DPWH chief sought the assistance of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in filing applications before the Court of Appeals (CA) for the issuance of freeze orders against the DPWH officials, employees, and private contractors, pursuant to Section 10 of RA 9160, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), which the CA has granted.
The DPWH officials involved include Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, John Michael Ramos, Ernesto Galang, Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Norberto L. Santos, Jaime R. Hernandez, Floralyn Simbulan, Juanito Mendoza, Roberto Roque, Benedict Matawaran, Christina Mae Pineda, Paul Jayson Duya, Merg Jaron Laus, Lemuel Ephraim Roque, Arjay Domasig, John Carlo Rivera, John Benex Francisco, and Jolo Mari Tayao.
Officers of private firms implicated are Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, Cezarah Rowena Discaya, Pacifico Discaya II, Mark Allan Arevalo, Sally Santos, and Robert Imperio.
The Senate and the House of Representatives, along with internal investigations within the DPWH, have revealed evidence linking some DPWH officials and employees, as well as the private contractors, to alleged corruption involving ghost, incomplete, and/or substandard projects.
The department has filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the individuals for violation of RA 3019, known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Article 217 (Malversation) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Article 171 on Falsification, of RA 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Meanwhile, Dizon, along with Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chairperson, retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., and other ICI members, met with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to discuss the local government's discovery of alleged anomalous flood control projects in the city. The officials also inspected the project locations, including the Matalahib Creek Pump Station, and Mariblo and Sta. Cruz Pumping Stations. Belmonte had earlier reported that 66 listed flood control projects could not be found in the city.
