MANILA (UPDATED) — A freeze order has been slapped on the assets of Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and AKO BICOL Party List Rep. Zaldy Co, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday.
Remulla made the announcement during Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, after evaluating the testimony of former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara for possible inclusion in the Witness Protection Program.
Remulla said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured a Court of Appeals Order that also freezes the assets of former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy, and former Public Works and Highways officials Roberto Bernardo and Henry Alcantara.
"We treated this as already a complaint with the NBI as the endorsing agency," Remulla said. "I believe that freeze orders have been issued already by the AMLC."
"The recommendation of the NBI for prosecution and probably this is what AMLC followed — for Mr. Alcantara, for Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Congressman Elizaldy Co, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon," he added.
Remulla said cases of indirect bribery, malversation of public funds, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt practices act will be filed against the mentioned personalities.
The DOJ is still looking into the case of Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife, Marilou, who is a contractor.
According to Alcantara, Commissioner Lipana texted and personally visited him in 2022 to ask for a listing of flood control projects. He said Lipana asked for P1.4 billion from 2023 to 2025.
"At the right time we should perhaps refer the matter of Commissioner Lipana’s involvement based on the testimony of Engineer Alcantara to the Committee on Justice because this looks like an impeachable offense," Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said.
Asked about the freeze order, AMLC Executive Director Matthew David said, however, “We’ve received the referral from the DOJ and are actively working on it. The investigation is being fast-tracked, and we’re doing everything we can to move things forward as quickly and thoroughly as possible.”
The Securities and Exchange Commission meanwhile, said it supports the AMLC's freeze order on the assets of individuals and companies allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.
The SEC noted that the CA has also already issued a freeze order on 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies linked to persons and entities, allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.
"The issuance of the freeze order is a step towards the right direction in the government’s efforts to address the widespread corruption that hound flood control projects, and to exact accountability from everyone involved," SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.