PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that individuals allegedly involved in the multibillion-peso flood control fund scam could be jailed before Christmas, saying that several cases are nearing completion.
In a Palace press briefing on Thursday, Marcos said the government’s investigation has reached the stage where airtight cases are being finalized for filing.
“Bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito ay palagay ko ay matatapos na ‘yung kaso, buo na ‘yung kaso nila. Makukulong na sila. Wala silang Merry Christmas,” he said.
The Office of the Ombudsman has already filed multiple graft and malversation cases against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and several contractors over alleged ghost projects, overpricing, and bid-rigging in flood control programs across Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, and Mindanao.
The first batch of complaints was filed on September 8, based on special audit findings by the DPWH and the Commission on Audit (COA).
Among those charged were former Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, John Michael Ramos, Ernesto Galang, and several section heads and engineers.
Private respondents included Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction; Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders; Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading; and Robert Imperio of IM Construction Corp.
Following these developments, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) blacklisted nine companies linked to Discaya, including St. Gerrard Construction, Alpha & Omega, Amethyst Horizon, and Great Pacific Builders, and revoked their Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) accreditation.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has since referred 37 more cases to the Ombudsman, implicating lawmakers, former DPWH officials, and major contractors.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) also filed 12 bid-rigging and collusion cases, including those against St. Timothy Construction, Sunwest Inc., Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction, and IM Construction Corp.
The total penalties from these cases are estimated at between P3 billion and P5 billion, with public auctions scheduled for November 20.
Meanwhile, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has been asked to sanction 16 engineers and technical professionals for falsified project designs and supervision.
On October 23, the Ombudsman filed additional cases involving the La Union 2nd and Davao Occidental District Engineering Offices, naming officials Gil Lorenzo, Raul Gali, and Rodrigo Larete, along with Discaya, Rimando, and Silverwolves Construction executives Moses Tabucol and Alvin Diego.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) capped the government’s multi-agency crackdown with P8.86 billion in tax evasion cases against 89 contractors and nine DPWH and COA officials, supported by 98 Letters of Authority for asset and tax audits issued on November 6.
Marcos said his administration is determined to ensure that those who stole public funds face real accountability, not just public spectacle.
