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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Court freezes bank accounts, assets of DPWH execs, contractors

Court freezes bank accounts, assets of DPWH execs, contractors

Published Sep 16, 2025 04:44 pm
From left: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Matthew David, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas legal counsel Atty. Roberto Figueroa
From left: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Matthew David, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas legal counsel Atty. Roberto Figueroa
The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the freezing of 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies of at least 26 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and contractors involved in anomalous flood control projects.
In a press briefing, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Atty. Matthew David, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas legal counsel Atty. Roberto Figueroa, said the accounts covered are those of the “Bulacan Group of Contractors” or BGC boys, and DPWH contractors, including Sarah Discaya.
Effective immediately, the freeze order was secured by the AMLC under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), citing possible money laundering involving public funds intended for flood control projects.
The amounts covered by the freeze have yet to be determined, but the AMLC said this could be established in the next 24 hours.
In a letter to David dated Sept. 12, Dizon requested for assistance in establishing probable cause that certain monetary instruments or properties are related to unlawful activities.
"As an ancillary remedy, and pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9160, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended, which grants the Court of Appeals the power to issue a freeze order upon an ex-parte application by the AMLC, we formally request the preparation and filing of an ex-parte petition to freeze the bank accounts, including the related and materially linked accounts, and assets of DPWH officials and private contractors," Dizon wrote.
The 26 DPWH officials and private contractors listed were: Henry C. Alcantara, former OIC- Assistant Regional Director; Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, former OIC-District Engineer (DE); Jaypee D. Mendoza, former OIC - Assistant DE; John Michael E. Ramos, Chief of the Construction Section; Ernesto C. Galang, Planning and Design section; Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan, OIC-Chief, maintenance section; Norberto L. Santos, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Section; Jaime R. Hernandez, Maintenance Section; Floralyn Y. Simbulan, Administrative Section; Juanito C. Mendoza, Finance Section; Roberto A. Roque, Budget Unit; Benedict J. Matawaran, Procurement Unit; Christina Mae D. Pineda, Cashier II; Paul Jayson F. Duya, project engineer; Merg Jaron C. Laus, project engineer; Lemuel Ephraim C. Roque, project engineer; Arjay S. Domasig, project engineer; John Carlo C. Rivera, project engineer; John Benex S. Francisco, project engineer; Jolo Mari V. Tayao, project engineer II; Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando, St. Timothy Construction Corporation; Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, St. Timothy Construction Corporation; Pacifico Discaya II, also of St. Timothy; Mark Allan V. Arevalo, general manager of Wawao Builders; Sally N. Santos, owner and manager of SYMS Construction Trading; and Robert T. Imperio, owner and manager of IM Construction Corporation.
"This request is made with the justification that a freeze order serves as an extraordinary and interim legal remedy to prevent the dissipation, removal, or disposal of properties strongly suspected to be the proceeds of, or related to unlawful activities, as defined under Section 3(i) of R.A. No. 9160, as amended," Dizon said.
Dizon added that the purpose  of the request is to temporarily preserve the monetary instruments or properties, thereby preventing their owners from utilizing them while the government prepares to build its case, potentially file civil forfeiture proceedings, and prosecute the individuals and entities involved.
"This preemptive action is crucial to prevent the disposal of assets and ensure that government efforts to combat corruption and money laundering are not thwarted," he stressed.

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