AMLC asked to freeze assets of officials, contractors in flood control scandal
By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze the billions of pesos worth of air and vehicle assets belonging to personalities, contractors and agency officials linked to anomalies in flood control projects.
“I think the freeze order will be issued (immediately). I think within a few days (after request) it will be issued. Hopefully, the freeze order will be issued right away,” Public Works and Highways Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
This move follows the DPWH’s announcement last week that it is coordinating with other agencies to probe real estate properties and high-value vehicles of 26 contractors and DPWH personnel linked to irregularities in flood control projects.
“LTO (Land Transportation Office) and CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) have already responded to our request. We are still waiting for MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) and LRA’s (Land Registration Authority) responses for these individuals’ sea and land assets,” Mr. Dizon said.
According to the report of LTO, a total of P474.48 million worth of motor vehicles were found to be registered under the names of DPWH personnel and private contractors.
Based on the report provided by the agency, about P277.26 million of the total amount were vehicle assets of former Pasig mayoral candidate Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, and her husband Pacifico F. Discaya.
Among the top 15 flood-control contractors earlier identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. were Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction, both linked to the Discayas.
Meanwhile, about P35.34 million worth of vehicles were registered under former DPWH assistant engineer Brice Ericson P. Hernandez and P670,000 under former district engineer Henry C. Alcantara.
“This is just the initial list. We do not know yet if there are assets registered under their relatives,” Mr. Dizon said, adding relevant agencies have been asked to check the assets registered under family members of those linked to the scandal.
Mr. Dizon said that while CAAP found no air assets registered under the 26 contractors, it found at least 10 air assets with a combined value of $82.59 million tied to Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co.
A total of P4.7 billion or $82.59 million worth of air assets were registered under Mr. Co’s Misibis Aviation and Development Corp. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp. — founded by his brother Christopher S. Co.
Hi-Tone and Sunwest, Inc. founded by Rep. Co were among the 15 contractors that cornered more than P100 billion worth of flood control projects between July 2022 and May 2025.
Meanwhile, CAAP also found $2 million worth of aircraft registered under QM Builders, another company tagged in flood control anomaly.
“We have also written to the AMLC, Department of Justice and ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) about these assets. NBI has already requested a freeze order,” he said.
Other contractors named were: Legacy Construction Corp.; EGB Construction Corp.; Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc.; Centerways Construction and Development, Inc.; Sunwest, Inc.; Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.; Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.; Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.; Wawao Builders; MG Samidan Construction; L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.; and Road Edge Trading & Development Services.
The DPWH has also issued show-cause orders against 10 of its regional directors and engineers for reported lavish lifestyle, tampering of official documents and involvement in substandard projects.
He said the agency is giving these individuals five days to submit written explanations.
“This will be followed by filing of cases, administrative cases will be filed if there is enough evidence against them,” Mr. Dizon said, adding that these individuals will also be submitted to ICI for potential filing of criminal cases.
Political scientist at the Ateneo de Manila University Arjan P. Aguirre said the move of the DPWH is a big help in the ongoing investigation in the flood control mess as this will prevent those involved from using their assets to undermine efforts to investigate them.
“This move will also prevent those accused from causing further harm or damage to public interest — since these properties, possessions, (among others) are assumed to have been acquired at the expense of taxpayers money,” Mr. Aguirre said via Facebook Messenger.
