Marcos: 8 solons to face plunder, graft raps over flood-control scam

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that up to eight members of the House of Representatives could face plunder charges for their alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal. 

In a video message, Marcos said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will submit pieces of evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman and recommend plunder charges against some lawmakers, as well as cases for graft, bribery, and conflict of interest. 

''Mayroon din pong development ah 'yung ICI at saka ang DPWH. May magsusumite po ng ebidensya sa Ombudsman and magrekomenda sila ng kaso ng plunder, anti-graft, bribery, conflict of interest sa walong congressman na may-ari ng mga construction company na may proyekto sa DPWH,'' Marcos said. 

(There's a development with the ICI and the DPWH. They will submit evidence to the Ombudsman and recommend the filing of plunder, anti-graft, bribery, and conflict of interest charges against eight congressmen who owns construction firms, which have projects with the DPWH.) 

Marcos did not identify the lawmakers involved.

Last week, the ICI and the DPWH recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Leyte Representative and former Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co.

ICI member Rogelio "Babes" Singson and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon went to the Office of the Ombudsman to bring boxes of evidence against Romualdez and Co.

Marcos earlier expressed confidence that the Ombudsman's investigation would depend on the pieces of evidence gathered and referred to its office.

In the same video, Marcos reiterated that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) had secured additional freeze orders for the assets of those allegedly involved in the flood control mess. 

''This brings the total amount of assets frozen to about P12 billion pesos. Kasama po dito ang mga air asset ni Zaldy Co ang value mga P4 billion,” the President said.

(This includes air assets of Zaldy Co which have value of P4 billion.)

“At bukod pa roon mayroon po tayong nakuhang 3,566 na bank account, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, 16 na e-wallet account at saka air asset na na-frozen na,'' the President said.

(Aside from these, we have also frozen 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, 16 e-wallet accounts, and other air assets.) 

''Umpisa lang po ito. Mas marami pong asset ay mafo-frozen para maibalik ang pera ng tao sa kanila. Ito po ay ang aming pangako that the money of the people will be given back to the people,'' he added.

(This is just the start. More assets will be frozen to recover the money for the public. This is our promise that the money of the people will be given back to the people.) 

Earlier, the AMLC said that it had secured freeze orders for the P3.9 billion assets of an unnamed “high-ranking official from an independent constitutional body” and a “former official” over anomalous flood control projects.

According to the AMLC, the freeze order covered 230 bank accounts, 15 insurance policies, two helicopters, and one airplane. 

It said these were linked to violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Malversation of Public Funds and Property.—MCG, GMA Integrated News