The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested the assistance of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Maritime Industry iAuthority to trace motor vehicles linked to officials ang nd contractors implicated in a large-scale corruption probe involving alleged ghost and substandard infrastructure projects.
In a letter dated September 16, DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon, asked LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, LRA administrator Gerard Sirios, CAAP Gen Raul General Del Rosario and MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan to provide a list of land properties, motor vehicles, water vessels, and aircraft registered under the names of those mentioned in the investigation.
DPWH said the government is going after not only the bank accounts, but also all assets of 26 individuals charged in connection with the anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.
The move follows revelations during recent Senate and House hearings, as well as internal investigations by the DPWH, which allegedly uncovered irregularities involving “ghost, incomplete, and/or substandard” public works projects.
The DPWH filed a formal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, citing violations of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation), Article 171(Falsification), Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), and other related laws.
Among those named in the complaint are high-ranking officials and personnel from various DPWH sections, including construction, planning, maintenance, procurement, and finance. Also listed are executives from private construction firms allegedly involved in the scheme.
On September 12, the DPWH, in coordination with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), sought freeze orders from the Court of Appeals against the assets of the named individuals and entities.
The request was made under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), to prevent the possible disposal of assets believed to be linked to unlawful activities.
In his letter, Dizon emphasized the urgency of securing the vehicle information to support AMLC’s ongoing investigations and freeze order applications, which aim to preserve suspected illicit assets.
In related development Dizon, together with Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chairperson retired Justice Andres Reyes Jr., and ICI members former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, SGV and Co. Country Managing Director Rosanna Fajardo, and Baguio City Mayor and ICI Special Adviser Benjamin Magalong met with Mayor Joy Belmonte on September 18, to discuss the alleged anomalous flood control projects discovered by the local government in Quezon City.
The ICI members also conducted inspections at the project sites, including the Matalahib Creek Pump Station, Mariblo and Sta. Cruz Pump Station, among others.
