Gov’t freezes assets of 26 people in flood control mess

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government has ordered on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the freezing of bank accounts of over 20 people, including government contractors and public works officials tagged in anomalous flood control deals, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

In a letter addressed to the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) dated Sept. 12, Secretary Vince Dizon requested to freeze the bank accounts, including the related and materially linked accounts and assets of 26 people.

Matthew David, AMLC executive director said, the Court of Appeals already issued a freeze order against 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies of the personalities involved.

The list includes the Discaya couple and Wawao Builders general manager Mark Arevalo, whose construction firms belong to the president’s list of contractors that bagged the most number of projects in three years.

Also in Dizon’s request are 20 public works personnel, including dismissed engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.

The 26 people are as follows:

+ Henry C. Alcantara, former OIC - assistant regional director;

+ Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, former OIC - district engineer;

+ Jaypee D. Mendoza, former OIC - assistant district engineer;

+ John Michael E. Ramos, chief, construction section

+ Ernesto C. Galang, planning and design section;

+ Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan, OIC-chief, maintenance section;

+ Norberto L. Santos, quality assurance and hydrology section;

+ Jaime R. Hernandez, maintenance section;

+ Floralyn Y. Simbulan, administrative section;

+ Juanito C. Mendoza, finance section;

+ Roberto A. Roque, Budget Unit;

+ Benedict J. Matawaran, procurement unit;

+ Christina Mae D. Pineda, cashier II;

+ Paul Jayson F. Duya, project engineer;

+ Merg Jaron C. Laus, project engineer;

+ Lemuel Ephraim C. Roque, project engineer;

+ Arjay S. Domasig, project engineer;

+ John Carlo C. Rivera, project engineer;

+ John Benex S. Francisco, project engineer;

+ Jolo Mari V. Tayao, project engineer II;

+ Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, St. Timothy Construction Corporation;

+ Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, St. Timothy Construction Corporation;

+ Pacifico Discaya II, St. Timothy Construction Corporation;

+ Mark Allan V. Arevalo, general manager, Wawao Builders;

+ Sally N. Santos, owner/manager, SYMS Construction Trading;

+ Robert T. Imperio, owner/manager, IM Construction Corporation.

The DPWH said Dizon’s request was based on the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act where financial transactions from unlawful activities and illegal sources can be held.

It added that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has the authority to investigate fraud-related activities and monitor assets while the probe is ongoing.

“Hindi sapat na matanggal sa trabaho. Hindi rin sapat na makasuhan at makulong,” said Dizon as he expressed hopes that money lost from the alleged corruption will be returned to the people.

[Translation: It’s not enough to dismiss people from their jobs. It’s not enough that they only face complaints and serve time.]

The DPWH said the BSP will also look into potential money-mulling activities, such as the act of using, borrowing, or allowing the use of a financial account from crimes, offense, or social engineering schemes and opening an account using fictitious names, among others.