De Lima seeks freeze order on accounts of lawmakers tagged in flood control mess

Metro Manila, Philippines - A former justice secretary now party-list lawmaker has called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to issue freeze orders on bank accounts of lawmakers tagged in the anomalous flood control projects.

Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said the order should extend to relatives of the lawmakers. The AMLC had frozen the assets of former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and government contractors.

“They should also be open to scrutiny of their bank accounts and transactions, para talagang malaman natin kung wala talaga silang itinatago [for us to know that they are not hiding anything],” De Lima said in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

She pushed for the urgent passage of the House Bill 2897 or the People’s Freedom of Information Bill to ensure transparency in public service.

“Sa ilalim ng batas na ito, hindi na magiging pahirapan ang paglalabas ng SALN (statement of assets, liability, and net worth) at kaukulang mga dokumento mula sa mga opisyal at kawani ng gobyerno, na para bang nakikiusap pa ang publiko na gawin nila ang tungkulin nila sa taumbayan,” the senator said.

[Translation: Under this proposed law, the releasing of officials’ SALN and documents will not be difficult, unlike now which seems the public is begging them to do their mandate.]

“Katapatan at pananagutan ang dapat maging SOP (standard operating procedure) sa gobyerno, hindi ang kickback, pagnanakaw, at pandarambong sa kaban ng bayan,” she added.

[Translation: Honesty and accountability should be the SOP in the government, not kickbacks, stealing, and plunder.]

House Speaker Bojie Dy previously said he is willing to publicize his SALN if needed to restore public trust.

Lawmakers, DPWH officials, and government contractors are under scrutiny in the flood control scandal – in which projects were either substandard or non-existent and funds were pocketed by public officers.