P5.2 billion assets of persons in flood control mess frozen – AMLC

MANILA, Philippines —  The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said that it has so far frozen P5.2 billion in accounts of individuals implicated in anomalous ghost and substandard flood control projects under six freeze orders it has secured from the Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon signed separate partnership agreements with the AMLC and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) yesterday in efforts to get back the infrastructure funds stolen in various ghost and
 substandard flood control and other project anomalies the department was investigating in coordination with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other government agencies.

In the cooperation pact he signed with AMLC executive director Matthew David, Dizon said that this was just one of the strategies being taken by the Department of Public Works and Highways to speed up the recovery of taxpayer funds lost to anomalous public works projects.

The initiative follows President Marcos’ directive to claw back public money and redirect it to projects that benefit Filipinos.

Under the agreement, the two agencies will share information and conduct coordinated financial examinations and investigations into transactions involving erring former DPWH officials and favored contractors.

The memorandum of agreement provides for joint case-building on possible money laundering and related financial crimes and paves the way for expedited petitions to freeze assets and bank accounts under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Dizon thanked the AMLC for acting swiftly to freeze nearly 2,000 accounts linked to questionable contracts. He added that more assets and accounts are expected to be frozen once the DPWH files cases with the Office of the Ombudsman and the ICI.

“Our goal is straightforward,” Dizon said. “Protect the public purse, hold the crooked to account, and make sure the people’s money is recovered—fast.”

In the agreement signed with the PCC chairman Michael Aguinaldo, Dizon said that the DPWH wanted a close collaboration to enforce the Philippine Competition Act across public works procurement—aimed at ending bid-rigging, stopping favoritism among contractors, and swiftly returning public funds lost to “ghost” flood-control and substandard projects.

“This is the first of its kind in public infrastructure,” Dizon said at the DPWH-PCC signing with Aguinaldo. “The DPWH has signed a long-term agreement with PCC to safeguard the people’s money—and recover it—from any anomalous contracts entered into because of rigged procurement activities.”

Under the memorandum of agreement, the DPWH will expedite referrals to the PCC for investigation and administrative fines against contractors involved in collusion, bid manipulation and other violations of the Competition Act.

“The signing of this MOA shows how serious government is—under the President’s directives—to make sure not only that people get their money back through the cases we file, but more importantly, that this never happens again. That’s the lasting legacy the President wants to leave,” Dizon said.

The public works chief added that the pact is intended to break recurring cycles of corruption and prevent repeat scandals in infrastructure spending.

Dizon also thanked Aguinaldo for the PCC’s quick action on 12 cases the DPWH has referred involving alleged bid-rigging by five contractors.

“Our message is simple,” Dizon stressed. “The people’s money must be returned—fast—and the rules will be enforced fairly, without fear or favor.”

ICI to draft rules on livestreaming hearings

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure will not livestream hearings until a set of rules has been drafted.

In a written statement Thursday, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said protocols should first be in place to manage the defamatory statements that may be blurted out during the hearing.

“We hear the clamor of the people for more transparency and we are pushing to livestream the hearings as soon as possible,” Reyes said.

“However, before we do so, the ICI would need to study and draft the rules of procedure and parameters to allow for livestreaming, taking into consideration sensitive information and the constitutional rights of invited resource persons,” he added.

Since its creation mid-September, the ICI has been firm against livestreamed hearings to avoid descending into a “trial by publicity” and an avenue for political grandstanding and disinformation. But the commission has later caved to public pressure and announced that its succeeding hearings on the multibillion-peso corruption scandal will be accessible to the public via livestream.

Meanwhile, Reyes also clarified his comments that the burned office of the DPWH-Bureau of Research Standards in Quezon City contained documents supposedly proving the alleged one-percent share received by the attached agency from corruption schemes.

“This was based on the report submitted to us by Brice Hernandez,” the retired justice said in the statement, adding, “It is of note that this information is only alleged.” The ICI, he added, will still verify this claim.

Paombong LGU goes to ICI

The local government of Paombong, Bulacan, has sought the ICI’s help to investigate alleged ghost projects in the municipality reportedly worth over P700 million.

Izay Nunag, secretary of the municipal council, handed over to the commission reports coming from the DPWH and information from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.

“This is to assist and help our town, which is a second-class municipality.” Nunag told reporters. “You may not hear the name of our municipality since the flood control project issue began.”

Paombong is one of 13 towns and cities under the beleaguered Bulacan first district engineering office, headed before by dismissed engineers Henry Alcantara and Hernandez.

Nunag did not show her files to the media, but she hopes that the commission will give Paombong—and Bulacan—a resolution on corrupt flood works that have plagued these areas

PNP begins coordination for ICI probe

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has begun internal coordination among its offices to support the ICI in its probe into alleged “ghost projects,” the PNP said Thursday.

In a news briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said participating units started meetings on Wednesday to determine their specific roles and resource requirements for the ICI investigation.

“There is no specific number of personnel yet, but the Chief PNP has tapped the concerned units,” Tuaño said. “For instance, engineering units will deploy geodetic engineers since the submitted reports on ghost projects include coordinates requiring verification.”

Tuaño added that the ICI-related activities are still in the coordination stage and have not yet required a budget request. -