2 Sunwest execs linked to flood control mess sent surrender feelers —CIDG

Two of the three at-large officials of Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation who are still in the country have sent feelers to surrender, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Monday.

"Sa tatlo ongoing ang manhunt operations although two of them are sending surrender feelers," PNP-CIDG Acting Director Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II  said in a press conference.

He said the two are afraid because they do not have a lawyer to represent them. 

"We must understand na 'yung tatlong hinahanap sa local ay  mataas ang posisyon nila sa company na iyon but dummy lang so basically they do not have the money and capacity to pay for a lawyer," he said.

Morico said it was the relatives of the two who reached out to authorities.

"May back channel po sa amin, siyempre wala silang personal na abogado and apparently parang napabayaan so they are afraid also. I think 'yung credibility ng CIDG is well established na igagalang namin ang karapatan nila that's why certain kamag anak ang nagpadala ng ano na they are willing (to surrender) in time," he said.

He, however, reminded the accused that the CIDG cannot wait because there is an arrest warrant issued against them.

"But you know there is a warrant of arrest at hindi kami makakapaghintay niyan kung maunahan namin silang mahuli that's fine so if they are listening right now...we assure them na 'yung karapatang pantao nila ay igagalang ng CIDG," he said. 

He refused to say who among the Sunwest officials sent the surrender feelers. 

On Friday, PNP-CIDG and the National Bureau of Investigation went to a hotel in Pasay City to serve the arrest warrants against the following: 

• Consuelo Dayto Adon, member of Sunwest’s Board of Directors 
• Anthony Li Ngo, member of Sunwest’s Board of Directors 
• Noel Yap Cao, member of Sunwest’s Board of Directors

The authorities, however, did not find the three in the premises of the hotel.

The arrest warrant is in connection with the corruption and malversation of public funds charges filed by the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. 

These were the first lodged against those allegedly involved in the flood control kickback scheme that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. first flagged during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July.

Of the 16 accused, nine are now under custody, according to the police.  

Other accused who are yet to surrender or be arrested are: 

• Resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who is also former House appropriations panel chairperson
• Timojen Sacar, DPWH materials engineer
• Aderman Alcazar, president and board chair, Sunwest Construction
• Cesar Buenaventura, treasurer and board member, Sunwest Construction
• Consuelo Aldon, board member, Sunwest Construction
• Engr. Noel Yap Cao, board member, Sunwest Construction
• Anthony Ngo, board member, Sunwest Construction

Morico said the police attache in different countries are now working to locate the other accused. 

As to Sacar, Morico said the last information they received was he was in Israel. —AOL, GMA Integrated News