Metro Manila, Philippines – Aside from resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, three more people covered by the warrants of arrest in relation to the flood control corruption scandal are outside of the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Nov. 22.
The Sandiganbayan issued the warrants against former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Co and 15 others on Nov. 21 due to graft and malversation charges linked to a substandard flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The list included officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and company officers of Sunwest Inc.
In a news release, the BI said that based on travel records, the following individuals are currently abroad:
– Co departed for Singapore on Aug. 6
– Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Sunwest Inc. president and board chairman, departed for Australia on Oct. 2
– Cesar Buenaventura, Sunwest Inc. treasurer, departed for the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 2
– Montrexis Tamayo, DPWH OIC-Planning and Design Division chief, departed for Qatar on Nov. 15.
Authorities have begun their attempts to execute the warrants of arrest on Saturday.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the accused covered by the warrants have been encoded into the BI’s centralized derogatory database to ensure frontline officers can immediately flag, verify, and respond should any of them attempt to depart from or enter the Philippines.
“Once intercepted, our officers are under strict instruction to promptly coordinate with the Philippine National Police for the proper and lawful execution of the warrants,” Viado said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to investigate flood control project anomalies.
Marcos named Sunwest as among the top contractors that cornered billions of flood control projects. Co is believed to be the beneficial owner of the company.
