The Court of Appeals has issued a freeze order on 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies tied to individuals and corporations implicated in anomalous flood control projects, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) announced Tuesday.
The order stemmed from petitions filed by the AMLC on Monday, following a request from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Last week, the DPWH lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against several personnel and five contractors allegedly involved in irregularities in flood control projects. A day later, the agency formally sought AMLC’s intervention to freeze the assets of those named in its initial complaint.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that they moved to block the financial assets of all respondents in the case filed with the Ombudsman.
Among those identified were former OIC-assistant regional director Henry C. Alcantara, former OIC-district engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, and former OIC-assistant district engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza. Contractors named include Cezarah “Sarah” Rowena C. Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II of St. Timothy Construction Corp., Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao Builders, Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, and Robert T. Imperio of IM Construction Corp.
Dizon added that banks hosting these accounts have already been notified of the freeze order.
AMLC Executive Director Matthew David said their initial probe indicates possible money laundering involving public funds.
“There is a possible money laundering involving public funds,” David said, adding that the AMLC will intensify its probe to identify all involved parties and trace the full scale of the alleged transactions. He also confirmed coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General.