ICI seeks lookout order vs Escudero, Romualdez, 31 others

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has sought the Justice Department’s help to include in a watch list two former congressional leaders and more than 30 others as it investigates high corruption in flood control projects.

The immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) request on Wednesday, Oct. 8, named 33 personalities, including public works officials, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and Sen. Chiz Escudero, over their supposed involvement in the multibillion-peso scandal.

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.

The commission also submitted a similar request for 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 (Usbag 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)

+ 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 list are Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana and his spouse, Marilou, a flood control project contractor.

Other personalities in the request 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.

It invited as well Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to discuss the procedures of the National Expenditure Program, the implementation of the General Appropriations Act, and the process for unprogrammed funds.