House summons contractor who bagged billions in infrastructure projects

The  House of Representatives approved on Tuesday the issuance of a subpoena on the sole proprietor of CT Leoncio Trading and Construction which was said to have bagged billions in contracts in 2017.

Majority Leader Rolando Andaya made the motion during the plenary session as part of the Committee on Rules' investigation on the effects of the cash-based budgeting system.

"In furtherance of the investigation being conducted by your rules committee, I move that we issue a subpoena for Consolacion T. Leoncio, proprietor of CT Leoncio Trading and Construction," he said.

Hearing no objection from the House members, presiding officer Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero approved Andaya's motion.

The House leader earlier questioned the grant of at least 30 projects to the firm, which he said worth billions of pesos.

Andaya presented a certification from the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that CT Leoncio Trading and Construction is not a corporation, as well as contract showing that Leoncio has the sole proprietorship of the company.

The Majority Leader also said that CT Leoncio Trading and Construction simultaneously bagged projects in Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Samar, the National Capital Region, Camarines Sur, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Batangas, Bulacan and Davao City in 2017.

"[These] contracts [are] not only with the public works department but also with the BIR, DOTr, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, and DOLE," he added.

Apart from Leoncio, the House also approved to subpoena the concerned Department of Public Works and Highways regional directors, district engineering offices and the Commission on Audit officials in charge of auditing the said projects. —LDF, GMA News