CIAP withdraws charges vs flood control project contractors

The Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has withdrawn the charges and lifted sanctions against the contractors alleged to be involved in anomalous flood control projects.

In a November 6 letter furnished to GMA Integrated News, Atty. Regino Mallari Jr., alternate chairperson and supervising head of the CIAP, told Engr. Sergie Retome, Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board Acting Executive Director, said that it was withdrawing the charges since the PCAB "had already initiated investigations and undertaken measures against the same contractors." 

“[B]y virtue of the authority vested … by the Secretary, the formal charges filed by the FFOMT (Fact-Finding and Oversight Management Team) are hereby withdrawn, effective immediately,” the letter said.

The PCAB already has an ongoing probe covering the following contractors:

1. Legacy Construction Corporation 

2. Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp. 

3. St. Timothy Construction Corporation 

4. QM Builders 

5. EGB Construction Corporation 

6. Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc. 

7. Centerways Construction and Development Inc. 

8. Sunwest, Inc. 

9. Hi-Tone Construction 

10. Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc. 

11. Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp. 

12. Wawao Builders 

13. MG Samidan Construction 

14. L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. 

15. Road Edge Trading & Development Services 

16. Sysms Construction Trading

“All preliminary orders and/or preventive measure orders issued … are likewise revoked,” Mallari said in the letter.

Such actions include “suspension from engaging in construction business, confiscation or seizure of the paraphernalia, machines, vehicles… padlocking of the business establishment, warehouse, building, shop, or any other structure which was used in the commission of the offense," the letter said. 

It also includes “monitoring ingress and egress from the country," the letter added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News