Government freezes bank accounts of DPWH officials, contractors involved in flood control issue
The bank accounts of several government officials and contractors involved in the alleged corruption of flood control projects have now been frozen.
In a letter, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council to issue freeze orders on the bank accounts of the linked individuals, including Sarah and Curlee Discaya, and dismissed DPWH officials Brice Hernandez and Henry Alcantara.
The DPWH officials and private contractors Dizon listed are as follows:
- Henry C. Alcantara, former OIC - Assistant Regional Director
- Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, former OIC - District Engineer
- Jaypee D. Mendoza, former OIC - Assistant District Engineer
- John Michael E. Ramos, Chief, Construction Section
- Ernesto C. Galang, Planning and Design Section
- Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan, OIC-Chief, Maintenance Section
- Norberto L. Santos, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Section
- Jaime R. Hernandez, Maintenance Section
- Floralyn Y. Simbulan, Administrative Section
- Juanito C. Mendoza, Finance Section
- Roberto A. Roque, Budget Unit
- Benedict J. Matawaran, Procurement Unit
- Christina Mae D. Pineda, Cashier II
- Paul Jayson F. Duya, Project Engineer
- Merg Jaron C. Laus, Project Engineer
- Lemuel Ephraim C. Roque, Project Engineer
- Arjay S. Domasig, Project Engineer
- John Carlo C. Rivera, Project Engineer
- John Benex S. Francisco, Project Engineer
- Jolo Mari V. Tayao, Project Engineer II
- Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Pacifico Discaya II, St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager, Wawao Builders
- Sally N. Santos, Owner/Manager, SYMS Construction Trading
- Robert T. Imperio, Owner/Manager, IM Construction Corporation
"This request is made with the justification that a freeze order serves as an extraordinary and interim legal remedy to prevent the dissipation, removal, or disposal of properties strongly suspected to be the proceeds of, or related to, unlawful activities," Dizon wrote.
He added that this measure is "crucial to prevent the disposal of assets and to ensure that government efforts to combat corruption and money laundering are not thwarted."
In a press briefing, AMLC Executive Director Matthew David announced that the Court of Appeals has already issued the freeze order to 135 bank accounts and 25 insurance policies to some of the personalities Dizon had listed.
"Hindi sapat na matanggal sa trabaho. Hindi rin sapat na makasuhan at makulong. Ang utos ng Pangulo ay kailangan maibalik ‘yung pera ng mga kababayan natin," Dizon said.
Allegations of corruption involving the government's flood control projects began in July as the rains triggered massive flooding in the metro.
Hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption, which prompted the formation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that will specifically investigate anomalies in flood control projects in the last 10 years.
On Sept. 11, Dizon filed criminal complaints against officials of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and four private contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects.