PBBM SEES PERSONS CHARGED IN FLOOD CONTROL CORRUPTION TO BE JAILED BEFORE CHRISTMAS

“Alam ko, bago mag-Pasko, makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said most of those who have so far been charged in connection with flood control projects corruption would be in jail before Christmas, as his administration pursued accountability and justice.

In a news conference held in Malacañang, President Marcos reported the progress made since his July 28 Fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), that led to the filing of criminal complaints against those believed to have malversed public funds through ghost and substandard flood control projects, issuance of asset freeze orders, and implementation of systemic reforms in public infrastructure projects.

“Alam ko, bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito… Matatapos na ‘yung kaso nila, buo na ‘yung kaso. Makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas. Before Christmas, makukulong na sila,” President Marcos said.

The President said the administration’s actions are focused on three goals: to hold accountable those behind the corruption, to recover the stolen public funds, and to undertake reforms to put a stop to the malpractice.

“Kaya’t ‘yang mga taong ‘yan na kasabwat diyan, ito mga walanghiyang nagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan: Tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw. Habulin na namin kayo,” President Marcos declared.

The Chief Executive reiterated the importance of building solid cases based on evidence, against rushing the filing of cases that may only end up dismissed by the courts due to insufficient evidence or legal technicality.

“Alam ninyo, kinakatakutan namin na ‘yung mga alam natin na talagang kasabwat dito sa kawalang-hiyaang ito ay makakalusot sa kaso because of a legal technicality, dahil nagkamali tayo sa pagbuo ng ebidensya, dahil hindi maganda ang ating pagpresenta ng kaso, o nakalimutan natin pumirma sa isang dokumento,” President Marcos said.

“Kaya tinitiyak namin na pagka kami ay sumampa ng kaso, ‘yang kasong ‘yan ay hanggang sa dulo ay matibay ang kaso at kung sino man ang mga guilty, ay sila naman talaga ay mananagot. At kung kailangan at kung huhusgahan sila ng korte ay makukulong sila.”

Since the last SONA where the President called out the corruption in flood control projects and the resulting suffering and loss, Malacañang has initiated a nationwide audit and investigation, and opened the Sumbong sa Pangulo website to receive public reports.

So far, criminal cases have been filed against incumbent and former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (COA), incumbent and former legislators, and contractors.

A few days before President Marcos created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on September 11, the DPWH and COA filed with the Ombudsman the first set of criminal charges, against three contractors: St. Timothy Construction, Wawao Builders, and SYMS Construction Trading.

The DPWH also blacklisted nine construction companies linked to couple Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, including St. Timothy Construction.

Also in September, the DPWH filed with the Ombudsman graft charges against 20 officials and personnel of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Officer (DEO) and six contractors from St. Timothy Construction, Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction Trading, IM Construction Corp., and Topnotch Catalyst Builders/One Frame Construction.

That month, the Bureau of Customs seized 13 luxury vehicles owned by the Discayas due to irregularities in their importation, and set the public auction on November 20.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) meanwhile assumed direct control of contractor licensing to prevent further conflict of interest, while the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) started issuing freeze orders against the assets of persons linked to the flood control corruption.

As of November 5, seven freeze orders have been issued covering P6.3 billion in bank accounts, real properties, vehicles, insurance policies and e-wallet accounts, in one of the largest corruption-related assets seizure in the country’s history.

On September 29, the ICI referred its first batch of recommended criminal and administrative cases to the Ombudsman, implicating 37 lawmakers, former DPWH officials, and contractors for graft and corruption, malversation, falsification and plunder.

In October, malversation and graft and corruption cases were filed against 13 officials and personnel of the La Union 2nd DEO, eight officials and personnel of the Davao Occidental DEO, and four contractors from Silverwolves Construction Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corp.

That month, 12 cases of bid-rigging were filed by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) against St. Timothy Construction, Sunwest Inc., Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction Trading, and IM Construction Corp. involving P3 billion to P5 billion in penalties.

In November, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed P8.86 billion worth of tax evasion cases against 89 contractors and nine DPWH and COA officials.