Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has identified Benguet Lone District Representative Eric Yap as a person of interest in connection with the fully paid but unfinished flood control projects in La Union, reportedly handled by a construction firm formerly owned by him.
Remulla also disclosed that Yap’s brother, ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Edvic Yap, and Bulacan 6th District Representative Salvador Pleyto allegedly received money via bank transfers from contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, whose companies have been linked to ghost and substandard flood control projects.
The statement came after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) filed a formal complaint before the Ombudsman against 21 DPWH officials and two contractors in connection with flood control projects worth a total of ₱276 million in La Union and Davao Occidental.
The projects under scrutiny include:
- ₱96.5 million in ghost projects in Davao Occidental, and
- Two unfinished flood control projects in La Union, each worth ₱89.7 million.
The Davao Occidental project was contracted to St. Timothy Construction, owned by the Discaya couple, while the La Union project was handled by Silverwolves Construction, reportedly linked to Rep. Yap.
Rep. Eric Yap previously served as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations from 2020 to 2022.
According to Remulla, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) provided his office with information confirming money transfers to Edvic Yap and Rep. Pleyto, allegedly originating from the contractors involved in the anomalous projects.