Metro Manila, Philippines – The government is closely monitoring the travels of two former congressional leaders and more than 30 others in line with the investigation of high corruption in flood control projects.
The Justice Department approved an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) request from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure on Wednesday, Oct. 8, covering 33 personalities, including public works officials, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and Sen. Chiz Escudero.
An ILBO is an instruction to monitor the travel of certain people in connection with an ongoing investigation, in this case the multibillion-peso flood control fund mess.
Others are Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Joel Villanueva, and former senators now Mayor Nancy Binay and Bong Revilla, tech-billionaire Maynard Ngu and Carlene Villa – whom former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo linked to Escudero and Binay, respectively, for flood control kickbacks.
In a statement, Estrada said he still has a hold departure order over graft charges. “Tuwing aalis ako ng bansa nagpapa-alam pa rin ako sa Sandiganbayan,” he said.[Translation: So I still ask permission from the Sandiganbayan whenever I leave the country.]Other senators have yet to issue statements.
The ILBO also covers representatives named by contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya in the previous Senate inquiry for supposedly demanding money in exchange for government contracts. They are:
+ Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig City)
+ Rep. Jojo Ang (Uswag Ilongo Partylist)
+ Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City)+ Rep. Juan Carlos Arjo Atayde (Quezon City)+ Rep. Nicanor “Nikki” Briones (Agap Partylist)+ Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro (Marikina)+ Rep. Florida Robes (San Jose del Monte, Bulacan)+ Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Romblon)+ Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr. (Laguna)+ Former Rep. Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel (An Waray Partylist)+ Rep. Leody “Ode” Tariela (Occidental Mindoro)
+ Rep. Reynante “Reynan” Arrogancia (Quezon)
+ Former Rep. Marvin Rillo (Quezon City)
+ Former Rep. Teodoro Haresco (Aklan)
+ Rep. Antonieta Eudela (Zamboanga Sibugay)
+ Rep. Dean Asisio (Caloocan)
+ Rep. Marivic Co Pilar (Quezon City).
The lawmakers denied their involvement in the pocketing of public funds.
Also on the ILBO are Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana and his spouse, Marilou, a flood control project contractor.
Others are Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, Quezon City district engineers Loida Busa, Ramon Devanadera, Johnny Protesta, Jr., and Arturo Gonzales Jr., and a certain “Bogs” Magalong.
The DOJ has earlier placed former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on a lookout order, as well as a number of contractors and public works officials.
Summons for Co, Romualdez
Meanwhile, the ICI has issued a subpoena to Co for its hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 14. “You are hereby commanded and required to appear before the Commission, then and there to testify under oath relative to your personal knowledge ever since you joined the committee on appropriations of the national budget insertions and your involvement in DPWH flood control projects,” Commission Chairman Andres Reyes said in a letter.The commission also asked Co to bring contracts and proposals of flood control projects that the lawmaker’s family has a beneficial interest in.Co had historical ties with Sunwest Inc., one of the 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that bagged the most number of flood control projects in the last three years.
The ICI earlier recommended to the ombudsman to charge the former House appropriations chairman and other Sunwest officials over substandard infrastructure deals in Oriental Mindoro.
Co has resigned as a House member while on medical treatment in the US.
The ICI also requested Romualdez to testify in its Oct. 14 hearing.
In a statement, the former House speaker’s office said the Leyte lawmaker is prepared to appear before the commission.
