P2.5 billion in corrupted funds can be recovered from 12 projects, Dizon says
MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Monday, October 20, that reclaiming 12 projects from controversial contractors could return up to P2.5 billion to the national coffers.
During a Senate hearing on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget, Sen. Bam Aquino asked Dizon how much could be returned to public funds following a case filed with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
“P2.5 billion po, doon palang sa 12 na proyekto na iyon,” Dizon responded. (It is P2.5 billion, just from those 12 projects.)
The PCC is the government agency tasked with fighting anti-competitive practices in the bidding process. This includes cases of alleged collusion between officials and contractors. The DPWH has already filed a case with the PCC involving several contractors implicated in corruption.
The cases filed with the PCC involve St. Timothy Construction Corp., owned by the Discaya family, as well as Sunwest, Inc., which is linked to resigned House lawmaker Zaldy Co.
Other contractors involved in the PCC cases include Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., and SYMS Construction Trading.
Aquino pointed out that if P2.5 billion could already be recovered from 12 projects, imagine how much more could be reclaimed from the 421 ghost flood control projects uncovered by the DPWH.
“If the PCC rules on this, the assets of the defendant will be sheriffed,” Aquino said in a mix of English and Filipino.
This means that the properties, vehicles, and bank accounts can be sequestered by the PCC and potentially returned to the national treasury, Aquino said.
Aquino explained that for this, the PCC only needs a preponderance of evidence, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A preponderance of evidence is a lower standard of proof, typically used in civil cases, while proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a higher threshold, typically required in criminal cases.
Various government agencies have so far investigated 8,000 flood control projects, with 421 identified as ghost initiatives. There are still 100,000 more flood control projects that need to be validated.
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