Co, 7 lawmakers face plunder, graft cases

MANILA, Philippines, November 27 ------ Seven congressmen who are owners of construction firms that have contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been recommended for prosecution by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. Also, on ICI’s list – the eighth – was resigned party-list representative and fugitive Zaldy Co.

The lawmakers – mockingly called “cong-tractors” – “appeared” to have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Public Employees, for taking part in firms found doing business with the DPWH, the ICI said in its recommendation addressed to the Office of the Ombudsman. “These congressmen should not be engaging in private business activities that conflict with their official duties and they should not influence bids and awards,” ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said. “Members of Congress must not sway procurement processes, nor should they participate in or benefit from government contracts,” he said.

President Marcos also announced the development in a video statement, where he vowed no letup in efforts to recover funds lost to corruption. “This is our promise that the money of the people will be given back to the people,” Marcos said. Co was included on the list for his ties with FS Co Builders and Supply, owned by a sibling. Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola is related to top shareholders of Newington Builders Inc., Lourel Development Corp. and S-Ang General Construction and Trading Inc.

Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James Ang Jr., one of the 17 lawmakers tagged by the Discayas in the flood control mess during a Senate hearing in September, has links to IBC International Builders Corp. and Allencon Development Corp. Ang issued a statement yesterday saying his “resolve for truth to come out is stronger and clearer.” Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay remains as the general manager of JVN Construction and Trading.

The family of Bulacan 2nd District Rep. Augustina Dominique Pancho owns C.M. Pancho Construction Inc. Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lasam Lara founded JLL Pulsar Construction Corp., which his children now own. Surigao Del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas, already indicted in July for allegedly diverting disaster response funds to other projects without authority, has ties with Boometrix Development Corp. Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera, already facing a case for allegedly colluding with his wife and a DPWH engineer to secure over P600 million in government contracts, has links to Tarlac 3-G Construction and Development Corp.

All in all, their firms cornered 1,300 infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2024, but the ICI is mum about the specifics of the joint referral with the DPWH. “We looked at the records. We looked at the contracts. That’s all I can say because this is investigative work. I cannot divulge how we arrive at these conclusions,” he said.

The ICI cited Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution, which states that neither a senator nor a representative should “be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office.”

Source: philstar.com