Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has issued a warning regarding the nearly PHP950 million in casino transactions by a group known as the 'BGC Boys' or Bulacan Group of Contractors, which he suggests may be part of a scheme to launder illicit funds from questionable flood control projects.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson, in his privilege speech, highlighted records from at least 13 casinos indicating substantial cash-to-chips and chips-to-cash activities involving billions of pesos. These transactions were reportedly conducted under the names and aliases of officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and associated contractors. Lacson expressed concerns that the alleged gambling 'winnings' could be fabricated through simple exchanges of cash for chips, minimal play, and subsequent cashouts, presenting the funds as legitimate gambling gains.

Lacson identified several individuals involved, including Brice Ericson Hernandez, officer-in-charge district engineer of DPWH Bulacan 1st District, who allegedly used the alias 'Marvin Santos de Guzman' and reported PHP435 million in casino losses. Assistant district engineer Jaypee Mendoza, alias 'Peejay Castro Asuncion,' incurred PHP418 million in losses, while former district engineer Henry Alcantara, later OIC assistant regional director for Region 4A, alias 'Joseph Castro Villegas,' recorded PHP36.7 million in losses.

Other individuals named included DPWH Engineer II Arjay Domasig, reportedly posing as a contractor for SYMS Trading Corp. under the alias 'Sandro Bernardo Park,' with PHP16.9 million in losses, and contractor Edrick San Diego, who documented PHP42.4 million in losses.

Lacson stated that his office has submitted the names and aliases of these individuals to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). He emphasized that casinos are subject to scrutiny under the amended Anti-Money Laundering Act and called on AMLC to immediately freeze the bank accounts of those involved and initiate prosecution. He argued that their extravagant casino activities, along with questionable public works contracts, provide strong evidence of plunder and other graft-related offenses.