Dizon also going after mansions, other luxury assets

MANILA, Philippines —  Aside from bank accounts and insurance policies, the Department of Public Works and Highways is going after the other assets – including mansions, resort hideaways, luxury cars, boats and aircraft – of DPWH officials and six private contractors tagged in ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan.

Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon asked on Tuesday the Land Registration Authority, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Maritime Industry Authority for a list of the land properties, motor vehicles, water vessels and aircraft under the names of 26 former and current DPWH employees and contractors charged before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Dizon said the financial assets of the 26 people were issued freeze orders by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“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 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,” Dizon said.

He noted that the “recent hearings before the Senate and the House of Representatives, along with internal investigations within the DPWH, revealed evidence linking several DPWH officials and employees as well as certain private contractors to alleged corruption involving ghost, incomplete, and/or substandard projects.”

Dizon said these led to the filing of complaints before the ombudsman for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code for malversation (in relation to Article 171 on falsification), RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and other related laws.

Earlier, the DPWH requested the AMLC to issue a freeze order on the bank assets and insurance policies of the 26 people.

The request named DPWH officials Henry Alcantara (former OIC-assistant regional director), ÓBrice Ericson Hernandez (former OIC-district engineer), ÓJaypee Mendoza (former OIC-assistant district engineer), ÓJohn Michael Ramos (chief of construction section), Ernesto Galang (planning and design section), Lorenzo Pagtalunan (OIC-chief of maintenance section) ÓNorberto Santos (of the quality assurance and hydrology section), ÓJaime Hernandez (maintenance section), ÓFloralyn Simbulan (administrative section), ÓJuanito Mendoza (finance section), ÓRoberto Roque (budget unit), ÓBenedict Matawaran (procurement unit) and ÓChristina Mae Pineda (cashier).

Also included are project engineers ÓPaul Jayson Duya, ÓMerg Jaron Laus, Lemuel Ephraim Roque, ÓArjay Domasig, ÓJohn Carlo Rivera, ÓJohn Benex Francisco and Jolo Mari Tayao.

The contractors included in the AMLC freeze order request were ÓMa. Roma Angeline Rimando, Cezarah Rowena Discaya and Pacifico Discaya II – all of St. Timothy Construction Corp; Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders; ÓSally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading and Robert Imperio of IM Construction Corp.

Dizon said the “preemptive action is crucial to prevent the disposal of assets and to ensure that government efforts to combat corruption and money laundering are not thwarted.”

Meanwhile, a multi-sectoral group is set to join an inspection of flood control and drainage projects worth P652.5 million in Bacolod City “under the principle of fairness, transparency and accountability” on Sept. 22 to 23.

Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, convenor of the Council of Concerned Citizens, said a joint-inspection would also ensure that the activity would be “free from any suspicion of politicking or partisanship.”­

In Central Luzon, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said the Philippine National Police is committed to securing flood-mitigation projects and providing security to investigators and inspectors.

“We recognize the importance of flood-control projects in safeguarding lives and livelihoods. We will provide the necessary security to ensure that inspections are conducted smoothly and without disruption. These projects are vital to disaster preparedness and it is our responsibility to make sure that those working on them are safe,” Peñones said. –  Gilbert Bayoran, Ric Sapnu