DOJ issues lookout bulletin vs individuals in flood mess
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (Ilbo) on government officials and private contractors being linked to anomalous flood control projects nationwide.
This followed the request of newly appointed Secretary Vince Dizon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue the order on persons facing investigation for the projects.
“People have the tendency to escape. At the earliest opportunity, they would escape,” Remulla said in an interview.
An Ilbo does not restrict an individual’s right to travel but places him or her under monitoring by immigration officers. Should the person covered by the order leave the country, authorities will be alerted about the person’s departure and arrival.
Only a hold-departure order issued by the court can bar an individual facing criminal charges from going abroad.
Remulla said the DOJ would also tap the National Bureau of Investigation to form a team that would help in the ongoing probe of flood control projects.
Accountability
This was after a lawyer of one of the contracting firms approached the NBI to discuss the possibility of becoming a “whistleblower.”
In a letter dated Sept. 2, Dizon asked the DOJ to issue the immigration lookout as part of its ongoing investigation of several DPWH officials and officers of construction companies allegedly behind “ghost projects” or substandard work on flood mitigation infrastructure.
“The timely issuance of an Ilbo is of utmost necessity to enable the current investigations to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people,” Dizon said.
According to Remulla, Dizon’s letter named, among others, DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara who admitted to lawmakers during a congressional hearing on Tuesday that he had signed a completion certificate for a P55-million flood control project in his area in Bulacan province without personally inspecting the site.
Aside from Alcantara, Dizon wanted the order to cover district engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez; assistant district engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza; engineers Ernesto C. Galang, John Michael E. Ramos, Norberto L. Santos, Jaime R. Hernandez and Benedict J. Matawaran; Floralyn Y. Simbulan of the DPWH administrative section, and Juanito C. Mendoza of the finance section.
Also on the list are the controversial Discaya couple Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, owners of Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp.
The Discayas have stood out among the 15 contractors named by President Marcos who secured 404 flood control projects worth P30 billion in a span of only three years.
The other contractors are:
- Alex H. Abelido of Legacy Construction Corp.
- Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corp.
- Allan B. Quirante of QM Builders
- Erni G. Baggao of EGB Construction Corp.
- Eumir S. Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders
- Lawrence R. Lubiano of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar of Sunwest Inc.
- Edgar S. Acosta of Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp.
- Wilfredo M. Natividad of Triple 8 Construction & Supply Inc.
- Romeo C. Miranda of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao Builders
- Marjorie O. Samidan of MG Samidan Construction
- Luisito R. Tiqui of L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc.
- Ryan Willie D. Uy of Road Edge Trading & Development Services.
Senate request
In a request dated Aug. 27 but released to the media on Sept. 3, the Senate blue ribbon committee also asked the DOJ to issue an Ilbo in connection with the panel’s inquiry.
In addition to those named by Dizon, the Senate panel’s request included the following:
- Raymond Abelido of Legacy Construction Corp.
- Gina Arevalo; Michelle Baraquiel; Jocelyn Reyes Natividad; Darcy Kimel Respico of Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading
- Edgardo Saggum of Eddmari Construction and Trading
- Maritoni Melegrito of Elite General Contractor and Development Corp.
- Ferdinand Beltran of Ferdstar Builders Contractors
- Melanie Raymundo of Rayman Builders Inc.
- Alvin Diego of Silverwolves Construction Corp.
As to DPWH officials who should be covered, the Senate blue ribbon panel tagged the following:
- Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral
- Project Director for flood control management Ramon Arriola III
- Director for internal audit service Luz dela Rosa;
- OIC regional director for the National Capital Region Gerard Opulencia;
- Director for Region III Roseller Tolentino
- OIC district engineer for Bulacan Jayson Jauco —WITH REPORTS FROM ZACARIAN SARAO, MARY JOY SALCEDO AND CHARIE ABARCA
