DPWH, ICI prep forfeiture raps to recover stolen funds in flood control mess

The recovery of alleged stolen public funds in relation to the flood control mess is now underway as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) begin preparations for the forfeiture of assets linked to personalities involved in the flood control corruption scandal.

In an ambush interview with reporters on Wednesday in Manila, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH will have a meeting with the ICI on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 “para pagusapan na kung kailan magfa-file ng mga civil forfeiture cases against those involved here (to discuss when to file the civil forfeiture cases against those involved here).”

“Para masimulan na ‘yung proseso ng pagbabalik ng pera kasi ‘yun naman ang gusto mangyari ng ating Pangulo at ng ating mga kababayan,” Dizon said.

(So we can now start the process of recovering the public’s money as this is what the President and the people want.)

Last week, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said the total amount of frozen assets linked to those involved in the alleged corruption in flood control projects have reached P5.2 billion.

The Court of Appeals, to date, has frozen 1,671 bank accounts, 58 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 99 real properties, and 12 e-wallet accounts.

The DPWH chief made the announcement on the heels of the ICI’s recommendation for the Office of the Ombudsman to file plunder, bribery, and corruption complaints against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former representatives Zaldy Co and Mitch Cajayon, and Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, among others. — JMA, GMA Integrated News