ASEANEWS HEADLINE-COURTS & CRIME | MANILA, Philippines:
Independent Commission for Infrastructure chairman Andres Reyes Jr. and Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon submit to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla documents recommending plunder and graft charges against seven lawmakers and resigned congressman Zaldy Co over the flood control corruption scandal./ MIGUEL DE GUZMA
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WATCH VIDEO: (4944) Ombudsman seeks BI help to stop 77 suspects in flood control mess from leaving PH | ANC – YouTube
Ombudsman seeks BI help to stop 77 suspects in flood control mess from leaving PH | ANC
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MANILA, Philippines — Seven congressmen who are owners of construction firms that have contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been recommended for prosecution by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Also on ICI’s list – the eighth – was resigned party-list representative and fugitive Zaldy Co.
The lawmakers – mockingly called “cong-tractors” – “appeared” to have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Public Employees, for taking part in firms found doing business with the DPWH, the ICI said in its recommendation addressed to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“These congressmen should not be engaging in private business activities that conflict with their official duties and they should not influence bids and awards,” ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said.
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“Members of Congress must not sway procurement processes nor should they participate in or benefit from government contracts,” he said.
President Marcos also announced the development in a video statement, where he vowed no letup in efforts to recover funds lost to corruption. “This is our promise, that the money of the people will be given back to the people,” Marcos said.
Co was included on the list for his ties with FS Co Builders and Supply, owned by a sibling.
Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola is related to top shareholders of Newington Builders Inc., Lourel Development Corp. and S-Ang General Construction and Trading Inc.
Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James Ang Jr., one of the 17 lawmakers tagged by the Discayas in the flood control mess during a Senate hearing in September, has links to IBC International Builders Corp. and Allencon Development Corp.
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Ang issued a statement yesterday saying his “resolve for truth to come out is stronger and clearer.”
Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay remains as the general manager of JVN Construction and Trading.
The family of Bulacan 2nd District Rep. Augustina Dominique Pancho owns C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.
Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lasam Lara founded JLL Pulsar Construction Corp., which his children now own.
Surigao Del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas, already indicted in July for allegedly diverting disaster response funds to other projects without authority, has ties with Boometrix Development Corp.
Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera, already facing a case for allegedly colluding with his wife and a DPWH engineer to secure over P600 million in government contracts, has links to Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp.
All in all, their firms cornered 1,300 infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2024, but the ICI is mum about the specifics of the joint referral with the DPWH.
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“We looked at the records. We looked at the contracts. That’s all I can say because this is investigative work. I cannot divulge how we arrive at these conclusions,” he said.
The ICI cited Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution, which states that neither a senator nor a representative should “be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office.”
‘Culture of contracting’
Reyes called for the eradication of the “culture of contracting in Congress” as corruption in government continues to fester.
“This practice should have ended decades ago,” he said. “The longer we allow it to exist, the more it corrodes public trust.”
“Let us tear down this abusive system one by one with every filing,” the ICI chairman added.
More names will come out in the coming weeks, he said without elaborating.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is set to discuss with Speaker Faustino Dy III how to deal with the congressmen facing prosecution.
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“There will be disruption. I have to talk to the Speaker because many will get affected. Our law is full of statutes that will make people accountable and make them pay the price for their misdeeds,” he said at a briefing.
Remulla said “more than 10 percent” of House members would likely be affected by the investigations.
He also said apart from the eight lawmakers being tagged, there could be around 12 to 15 more “with obviously conflict of interest.” The ombudsman, however, said they are waiting for the lawmakers themselves to “come clean.”
Also yesterday, Quezon 3rd District Rep. Reynante Arrogancia and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela appeared before the ICI – but behind closed doors – to debunk the Discayas’ claim that they had also received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission granted the request of the two not to livestream their testimonies because of “sensitivity” of some information.
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“They cited sensitive and private information that might be divulged during their testimonies, and the commission saw it fit to allow an executive session,” Hosaka said.
“There is information that should really be divulged in confidence so that the investigation will proceed without any hitches or problems because the commission needs to get as much evidence and information as possible for us to arrive at the truth,” Hosaka said.
“I encourage everyone to read our guidelines because they are based on law, jurisprudence and even the pronouncements of the Supreme Court,” he added.
In his video statement, Marcos also reported that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured two freeze orders for properties linked to the flood control controversy, bringing the total amount of frozen assets to about P12 billion. Among those covered by the orders are Co’s assets valued at P4 billion, he added.
Also covered by the freeze order were 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties and 16 e-wallet accounts.
“This is just the beginning. More assets will be frozen so the money can be returned to the people,” the Chief Executive said.
The flood control controversy started after Marcos ordered an investigation on substandard and ghost projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July.
The scandal has caused leadership changes in Congress, resignations as well as calls to cleanse the bureaucracy of corruption.
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“The issuance of the freeze orders will enable AMLC to pursue a more extensive financial investigation to uncover any possible money laundering scheme linked to the flood control projects,” said AMLC executive director Matthew David.
“The public can be assured that the AMLC will continue to pursue all possible legal remedies to ensure that those involved in the misuse of public funds are held accountable,” he added.
The AMLC has not publicly identified the officials involved, citing confidentiality restrictions while investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, DPWH accountant Juliet Calvo, who had posted P90,000 bail for her temporary release, was rearrested after she was included among respondents in malversation of public funds charges.
Another DPWH official, Montrexis Tamayo, was nabbed by police at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday upon his arrival from Israel.– Daphne Galvez, Keisha Ta-asan, Emmanuel Tupas, Rainier Allan Ronda, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rudy Santos
