Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, I rise today on a matter of personal and collective privilege.
BEFORE I START MR. PRESIDENT AND WITH THE INDULGENCE OF OUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES – LET ME PUT THIS ONE ISSUE AWAY FIRST. THE USEC THAT I MENTIONED TO HAVE OFFERED OUR SENATE PRESIDENT TO MAKE “INSERTIONS” IN THE 2026 NEP VEHEMENTLY DENIED IT TO HER NEW BOSS, DPWH SEC VINCE DIZON, AND TO HIS FACE AT THAT – WAS ACTUALLY LYING THROUGH HER TEETH. DAPAT ALAM NIYA NA HINDI AKO BASTA NAGSASALITA NANG WALANG KATIBAYAN.
AYAN PO ANG RESIBO: “PARA MAISAMA KO PO SA NEP SIR” — HER WORDS, NOT MINE. SABI NGA NG MGA ABUGADO – “RES IPSA LOQUITUR”. (THE THING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF).
I WILL NOW PROCEED, MR PRESIDENT.
Exactly three weeks ago, I took this floor to expose what I called the flooded gates of corruption – a dam of deceit that has burst open, unleashing the tales of insatiable greed that continue to drown our nation.
Simula nang mabuksan ang agos ng usapan tungkol sa mga anomalya sa DPWH, bumuhos rin ang katakot-takot na ulat mula sa mga netizens at karaniwang mamamayan na nagmamatyag sa mga substandard at ghost projects sa iba’t-ibang dako ng kapuluan — kasabay ng bugso ng poot ng taumbayan laban sa iba’t ibang personalidad na diumano ay sangkot sa pagsasamantala sa kaban ng bayan. Ang halos nagkakaisang sigaw ng lahat: dapat may managot, dapat may makulong. Our frustrated countrymen cry in unison: “Name, shame, AND prosecute.”
WE, in this august hall, share the same frustration. Except for the chaos and anarchy in the streets and in some public and private properties which hopefully will not escalate, it is but right and just that we all demand that heads must roll and those responsible must be put behind bars – whichever agency or office, even THOSE IN high towers of power, they may come from.
Justice must catch up with these people because ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Having said that, my office is fully committed to submit the overwhelming loads of reports we received on substandard and ghost flood control projects to the concerned authorities in view of the forthcoming investigation by the yet to be constituted independent probe body.
To this end, we decided not to include the same or similar anomalous flood control projects anymore in my follow-up privilege speech today.
Instead, I will focus on sharing with you the various forms of corruption in fine print — evidence so telling that it will nail the coffin for the summary dismissal and/or prosecution of these culprits with a warning that what you are about to see may be hazardous to your health in that it will make your blood boil over the maximum normal systolic and diastolic thresholds:
First, how the fruits of corruption are being squandered, albeit partly by these officials entrusted to protect people’s lives and low-lying communities from the devastation caused by typhoons and low-pressure areas. And when I say, partly, I do not mean paltry sums of money, Mr. President;
Second, how the same officials maneuver and manipulate the processes and procedures involved to collect from unaccomplished or uncompleted – even ghost projects, perpetrated by these incorrigible, and probably beyond-redemption government officials.
BGC Boys – The Casino Spree
Unahin na natin ang mga tinaguriang BGC boys. We delved so deeply into the web of corruption involving the culprits behind the notorious Bulacan flood control disaster. sa lalim po ng inabot ng aming pagsisiyasat, sukdulang nakakarimarim na ang aming mga nadiskubre. These DPWH officials reached the lowest of the low — and the highest of the high in the many corners of casinos across the country.
On top of their million-peso wristwatches, signature clothes and sneakers and whatever else lavish lifestyles, these five erstwhile DPWH officials of the Bulacan 1st district engineering office gained them a moniker – “BGC boys”. Not Bonifacio Global City boys, Mr. President.
But rather – the Bulacan Group of Contractors as they have been known to casino employees. Hindi tambay ng High Street sa BGC ang mga ito — Hell Street siguro, puwede pa, Ginoong Pangulo.
At siyempre, nagtatago sa mga ALIASES ang BGC boys. Let me do a roll call, complete with “valid” identification cards like driver’s licenses from the Land Transportation Office, but this is a separate matter to be investigated, my distinguished colleagues:
Ang kakasibak lamang na DPWH OIC assistant regional director ng Region 4A at dating district engineer ng Bulacan na si Henry C. Alcantara alias JOSEPH CASTRO VILLEGAS;
OIC District Engineer ng Bulacan 1st District Brice Ericson G. Hernandez, alias MARVIN SANTOS DE GUZMAN;
Assistant District Engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, alias PEEJAY CASTRO ASUNCIÓN;
DPWH Engineer II Arjay Domasig, introducing himself as A Contractor from SYMS Trading Corp with alias, SANDRO BERNARDO PARK at;
EDRICK SAN DIEGO, as himself.
They may hide their identities, but having spent practically all my law enforcement years conducting intelligence and investigative work, I know criminals when I see them. No matter how real-looking their IDs are, no matter how long they were able to thrive in the shadows, no one can shield them from the day of reckoning that they deserve.
Lalong lalo na kung lantaran at walang pakundangan na ang pagnanakaw at paglustay ng kaban ng bayan, Mr. President.
Base sa mga dokumentong nakalap namin mula sa pagcor, malulula tayo sa laki ng halagang naging talo sa casino ng limang ito – P950 million in GROSS losses, Mr. President. Base ang mga ito sa official at validated na record mula mismo sa labing tatlong casinos sa Metro Manila, Cebu, at Pampanga.
Halimbawa, itong si former ADE AT OIC DE Brice Hernandez aka Marvin Santos De Guzman, mayroong combined gross losses sa mga casino na P435 million.
Halos hindi sila nagkakalayo ng OIC ADE niya na si Jaypee Mendoza alias Peejay Castro Asuncion na may P418 milion na kabuuang talo sa iba’t ibang mga casino.
Ang former DISTRICT ENGINEER na si Henry Alcantara — na hindi naman tumanggi na pumapasok at nagsusugal sa casino — ay nakapagpatalo ng P68,000 pesos pero bilang Henry Alcantara lamang yan. Ang mas malaking bulto ng kanyang talo HABANG NAGTATAGO sa kanyang alias na “Joseph Castro Villegas” AY tumataginting na P36.7 million IN GROSS LOSSES.
Hindi rin natin isinasantabi ang milyones na ipinatalo ng mga DPWH employees na nagpapanggap na contractors na sina PROJECT ENGINEER Arjay Domasig ALIAS SANDRO BERNARDO PARK na may gross losses na P16.9 MILLION at Edrick San Diego as himself na may losses NA P42.4 million. Akala siguro ng mga ito ay maaari silang manatiling multo o incognito. ITO AY isa LAMANG sa tambak na pagkakamali nila, Ginoong Pangulo.
Interestingly, mukhang may kakaibang milagro ang dumapo sa tropang BGC boys sa isang casino sa NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS SA Pasay kung saan sila tumabo ng daang milyong pisong panalo mula AUGUST 31, 2023 hanggang April 4, 2024:
Henry Alcantara: P4,707,106.
Brice Ericson Hernandez: P189,068,665.
Jaypee Mendoza: P320,106,072
Arjay Domasig: P7,379,485
Edrick San Diego: P11,798,050
Sinuwerte nga kayang sabay sabay na nanalo ang mga ito, Mr. President? O baka naman money laundering SCHEME? may report kami at ito ay amin pang bina-validate – na peke lang ang pagdeklara nilang panalo. how so? magpapalit ng cash into casino chips, pero pag natalo ng kaunti, pupunta sa cashier para mag cash out at ideklarang panalo ang pinagpalitan nilang chips. SMART? Your guess, at this point, is as good as mine.
SA OKADA NAMAN, MAY NAKA RECORD NA ONE GAMING ACTIVITY MULA OCTOBER 17-18, 2022 SINA HENRY ALCANTARA, BRICE HERNANDEZ, ARJAY DOMASIG AT JAYPEE MENDOZA NA KUNG SAAN MALIBAN KAY HENRY NA NANALO NG P301,850, UMUWING TALUNAN ANG IBANG BGC BOYS DAHIL SA TOTAL LOSSES NA P1.75M.
Mr. President, let me show your the The following is the record of casino Cash to Chips and Chips to Cash transactions of the BGC boys sa mga kasino na pinasyalan nila mula 2023 hanggang 2025:
Henry Alcantara alias Joseph Castro Villegas:
Cash to chips from 2023-2025 – 1,428,170,000
Chips to cash: 997,765,000
Yes, you heard it right, B as in bilyon.
Brice Hernandez alias MARVIN SANTOS DE GUZMAN
Cash to chips – 659,910,000
Chips to cash – 1,385,360,250
Jaypee De Guzman alias PEEJAY CASTRO ASUNCION:
2023 and 2024
Cash to chips: 26,500,000
Chips to cash: 280,093,500
IN THIS REGARD, MY OFFICE HAS SUBMITTED THEIR NAMES AND ALIASES TO THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL SINCE CASINOS ARE COVERED PERSONS UNDER THE AMENDED Anti-Money LAUNDERING ACT.
Hindi pa po dito natatapos, Mr. President ang kanilang mga kabulastugan. Sa aking naunang Privilege Speech noong AUGUST 20, 2025, nauna ko nang inilarawan, base sa aming sources, ang mag-among sina Alcantara at Hernandez, na may parehong lebel ng pagmamahal sa pera.
Itong si Brice Hernandez, nagkalat na nga ang mga larawan sa social media dahil sa kanyang kabulastugan, aba, hindi man lamang nahiyang pumasyal pasyal sa isang casino sa METRO MANILA hanggang noong September 1, 2025. Habang naghi-hearing ang Senate Blue Ribbon COMMITTEE, si Brice nasa isang casino, nagsusugal.
Ang ibang BGC boys, may rekord pa hanggang noong nakaraang buwan NG Agosto, sa paglalaro sa mga casino.
Sumatutal, habang lubog pa rin sa tubig-baha ang mga taga-Bulacan dahil sa mga pangungurakot ng mga ito, at kahit buking na mismo ng Pangulo ang kalokohan, sige pa rin ang pagpapasasa ng BGC Boys – sa pagwawaldas ng pera ng taumbayan.
Walang kahiya-hiya sa katawan. Wala pong konsensya ang mga ito, Mr. President.
Paper Trails, Crooked Tales
Kung garapalan ang pagwawaldas ng kaban ng bayan sa mga casino, lalong garapalan ang kanilang pagdodoktor ng mga dokumento para makapagnakaw.
Over the past week, we scoured hundreds of pages of documents — each page painting tell-tale signs of how deeply entrenched corruption has become in the BGC Kingdom. Patterns emerged not by accident, but by elaborate design: a framework of rigged/questionable biddings, impossible timelines of completion, manipulated progress reports, and falsified public documents.
Certainly, these are not clerical errors, Mr. President. These are fingerprints of a system perfected over the years to pocket billions of funds at the expense of our people’s safety and welfare.
For purposes of presentation, iisa isahin ko na ang aming naging findings.
Contract ID: 24CC0604
Maycapiz-Taliptip River
Barangay Perez, Bulakan, Bulacan
Una na sa ating listahan ang flood control structure sa BAYAN NG Bulakan, sa lalawigan ng Bulacan na sakop ng notorious 1st Engineering District.
Ang pondo ng flood control structure sa Maycapiz-Taliptip River, Package B sa Barangay Perez ay nagkakahalaga ng P92.58 million sa ilalim ng 2024 National Budget.
Mr. President, hindi ito basta ghost project lamang. Hindi rin ito basta-bastang substandard o palpak. This project may be added to the ‘Wonders of the World’ – WHY? Because it will keep us wondering how in the world it was implemented at such an extraordinary speed — and paid, in extraordinary haste.
Imagine, Mr. President:
DECEMBER 17, 2024 nang mai-award sa SYMS Construction ang proyekto. May Notice to Proceed na agad nang sinundang araw o noong DECEMBER 18.
Matapos lamang ang dalawang araw o noong DECEMBER 20, aba, naniningil na agad-agad ang SYMS at nagsumite PA ng 46.05% completion rate na nagkakahalaga ng P42.63 million para sa kanilang unang Progress Billing.
Dalawang araw, Ginoong Pangulo – halos nangalahati na agad sila sa accomplishment. may pambihirang talento at unusual speed pala ang mga taga SYMS Construction. O baka may magic — Christmas magic dahil magpapasko na.
Hindi man nakahabol sa Pasko, happy new year pa rin ang bagong taon ng magkakasapakat na syms contractor at BULACAN DPWH dahil na-release agad noong December 27 ang unang bayad na P35.97 million sa SYMS, matapos bawasin ang VAT, withholding tax, at retention fees.
PALAGAY NAMIN MR PRESIDENT, KUNG KAYA PA NILANG KURAKUTIN ANG TAXES, BAKA NINAKAW PA RIN NILA. KAYA LANG, INISIP SIGURO BAKA MA-AL CAPONE SILA.
Paglipas ng tatlong buwan o noong March 14, naningil na muli ang SYMS para sa 89.10% completion rate na nagkakahalaga ng P39.86 million base sa kanilang second progress billing. Matapos ang limang araw o noong March 19, bayad na agad ang SYMS.
Syempre pa, mapupukaw ang aming curiosity kung anong pinagkaiba ng proyekto mula DECEMBER 2024 kung saan 46% na ng proyekto ang natapos kuno sa loob lamang ng 2-working days, at MARCH 2025 kung saan 89% completed na ang flood control PROJECT. Tignan po natin ang pagkakaiba.
[See slides]
Ito po ang mga larawan na naka-attached sa First Billing Request dated December 20, 2024 na 46% completed DAW at Second Billing Request dated March 14, 2025.
SABI NGA PO NILA – CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE? Wala po TAYONG MAKIKITANG PAGKAKAIBA, Mr. President. LET ME EXPLAIN.
Maliban na lamang kung ang dalawang taong nakatayo noong December 2024 ay hindi umalis, at HINDI RIN gumalaw hanggang Marso nang sumunod na taon, NO BRAINER IKA NGA – maliwanag na iisa ang larawan na ginamit at isimunite para sa 2 progress billings ng SYMS.
TRABAHONG TAMAD PARA SA TRABAHONG GAHAMAN, MR. PRESIDENT.
Hindi pa nagkasya dito ang handiwork ng contractor na SYMS at DPWH, my dear colleagues. Sa third and final payment, SUMOBRA PA ANG KUBRA ng SYMS ng P3.9 MILLION KAYA NAGING 14 million pesos. Kung susumahin natin, ang kabuuang SININGIL ng SYMS ay umabot sa P96.499 million o P3.9 million PA MORE sa original contract price na P92.585 million.
But lo and behold — aprubado ito… CERTIFIED, CHECKED, and REVIEWED BY THE BGC Boys na sina Project Engineer Arjay Domasig at Jaypee Mendoza ang Monthly Certificate of Payment para sa statement of work ng SYMS — kasama ANG dagdag na P3.9 million sa revised contract.
ANG UNANG MINADALING PROGRESS BILLING NO 1, APPROVED FOR PAYMENT RIN NINA BRICE HERNANDEZ AT HENRY ALCANTARA KAYA RELEASED AGAD AGAD ANG SINGILIN NG SYMS. HINOG NA HINOG SA CRIMINAL CASE NA MALVERSATION THROUGH FALSIFICATION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. MAMAYA, HIHIMAYIN PO NATIN ANG MGA PATONG PATONG NA KASO NA MAARING HARAPIN NG MGA ITO.
IF you know me, Mr. President, hindi PA RIN sa akin sapat ang mga dokumento at kwento. Kaya muli ko pong pinalakad ang aking Team upang makita ng sarili naming mga mata – ano ba talaga ang lagay ng proyektong ito sa Barangay Perez, Bulakan, Bulacan na katatapos lamang ngayong Mayo.
ANG TUMAMBAD SA AMIN, PACKAGE A NG PAREHONG PROYEKTO SA PAREHONG LUGAR NG PACKAGE B SA BARANGAY PEREZ, BULAKAN, BULACAN. MUKHANG NA DOUBLE WHAMMY TAYO NG SYMS CONSTRUCTION AT MGA KASABWAT NILA SA DPWH.
KUNG NASAAN ANG PACKAGE B NA MINADALING NABAYARAN AY MANANATILI NA LAMANG GUNI GUNI DAHIL TANGING PACKAGE A LAMANG ANG NANDUN.
ITO PO ANG HITSURA NG PACKAGE A NA WALANG PINAGKAIBA SA GHOST PROJECT NA PACKAGE B. TAGPI TAGPI NA NGA AT UNCOMPLETED NA PACKAGE A, MINULTO PA SA PACKAGE B:
Mr. President, SYMS Construction seems to be complicit sa broad daylight robbery na ito – not once, but twice.
DAPAT MAKASUHAN DIN ANG CONTRACTOR NA ITO BUKOD PA SA FOREVER BLACKLISTING.
Marami pang katanungan kaugnay ng proyektong ito, tulad na lamang ng iregularidad sa mga dokumento, pag-release ng bayad sa kabila ng KAKULANGAN ng pirma ng mga KAUKULANG opisyal.
Contract ID Nos. 25CC0072 at 25CC0091
Brgy. Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan
Sa dalawang proyekto sa Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit Bulacan, copy-pasted din ang modus ng SYMS, Mr. President. Ang masama, dalawang proyekto pa ang hinokus-pokus ng contractor at DPWH engineers sa Bulacan.
Ang isa, may Contract ID number 25CC0072 para sa riverbank protection sa Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan na may original contract price na P74 million.
Ang isa naman, Contract ID 25CC0091 para sa flood control structure sa Barangay Bulusan din mula Purok 4 hanggang Purok 5. Ang halaga: P92.7 million.
Akala namin, namamalik-mata lamang kami noong una naming kinilatis ang mga kontrata, distinguished colleagues. But documents clearly show not only how unscrupulous but also how brazen these people can be:
Pareho ang petsa ng Notice of Award ng DALAWANG CONTRACTS noong Pebrero 17, 2025; Pareho DIN ANG petsa ng Notice to Proceed: FEBRUARY 25, 2025. Pareho PA DING may revised contracts na ang mark up ay PAREHO PA ULIT NA 4%.
At ang ultimong panggagago, Mr. President — Sa loob lamang ng 15 days mula February 25 hanggang March 12, parehong 89% ang completion rate ng dalawang proyekto. Hindi lang yun: Syempre, sabay din ang singil ni SYMS para sa second at final PAYMENTS noong April 4, 2025. Fully paid ang parehong proyekto sa parehong araw rin noong April 22, 2025!
PARANG NAKIKINI-KINITA KO NA – NA NAGTATAWANAN PA ANG MGA MATATALINONG GAGONG MATSING NA ITO HABANG NAGBIBIYAHE PAPUNTANG CASINO DALA ANG KWARTANG KINULIMBAT HABANG NAGLILIMAS NG TUBIG BAHA PAPALABAS NG KANILANG MGA BAHAY ANG MGA POBRENG TAGA BULACAN.
Magkaibang proyekto na ang contract duration NA sana ay 240 days at 270 days RESPECTIVELY, pero sabay natapos ng RECORD PERIOD NA 34 days — 100% completed KUNO!
Sa kabilang dako, OKAY – let’s give them THE benefit of the doubt: baka nga naman 100 PORSYENTO NA lakas ang ibinigay ng SYMS kaya natapos agad-agad at sabay pa ang dalawang proyekto. TINGNAN natin ang progress reports na isinumite nila, Mr. President:
Sa slide na ito, makikita ang isinumiteng photos para sa progress billing number 1 ng SYMS noong March 14, 2025. Sa kaliwa, attachment para sa 25CC0072 contract; sa kanan naman, para sa contract 25CC0091. May pinagkaiba po ba?
Ganito rin ang attachment para sa second and final billing na isinumite noong April 4, 2025
Hindi kayo namamalik-mata. Harap harapan, pinagnanakawan po talaga tayo.
Mr. President, sa kabuuan, P174,699,499.11 ang halaga ng dalawang proyektong ito.
SA ISINUMITENG REPORT NG DPWH SA BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE HEARING, SINASABING ANG CONTRACT ID 25CC0072 AY WALANG ISTRAKTURA KAYA GHOST PROJECT PO TALAGA PO ITO. One project for THE price of TWO? HINDI PO BA SADYANG PANGGAGAGO NA ITO? PAPAYAG PO BA ANG MAHIGIT NA 112 MILLION FILIPINOS NA PATULOY NA MAGPALOKO SA CONTRACTOR AT LIMANG TULISAN NA ITO?
Contract ID: 24CC0545
Brgy. Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan
Obvious rin ang kabalbalan sa mga reports para sa proyektong Construction of Pumping Station and Flood Gate at Barangay Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan na may halagang P92.5 million sa ilalim ulit ng 2024 GAA. Ang contractor nito – ang IM Construction Corporation.
Base sa mga sales invoice, apat na beses nakasingil ang contractor para sa kabuuan ng proyekto mula October 2024 hanggang Mayo nitong taon, kasama na ang 15% advance payment.
Nakikita po ninyo sa screen ang mga petsa ng Request for Progress Billing noong December 20, 2024, February 24, 2025, at April 29, 2025, at MAPAPANSING pareho ito sa style ng SYMS, Mr. President.
Subalit ituon natin ang ating atensyon sa mga naka-attached na larawan sa First Progress Report noong December 20, 2024 at Third Progress Report noong April 29, 2025.
Ang sunod na mga litratong ito ay may petsang December 2024 at April 2025 pa rin – parehong larawan ng mga bulok at kinakalawang na sheet piles, parehong pwesto ng mga makinarya, at parehong pwesto ng mga manggagawa.
Ang kaibahan lamang? Ang lighting and contrast ng mga larawan.
To ask how these doctored photos slipped past the eyes of officials is not even a question, Mr. President. Talagang may sabwatan.
Contract ID 23CC0123 and Contract ID 23CC0156
Calumpit, Bulacan
Siyempre, Mr. President, hindi naman magpapahuli ang isa sa mga ‘crowd’s favorites’ simula noong lumabas ng dayaan sa mga flood control projects. Wala pong iba kundi ang sikat na sikat na Wawao Builders.
Tulad ng SYMS AT IM, malupit din talaga ang pattern ng kontratistang ito sa kababalaghan.
Busisiin natin ang dalawang proyektong ito na alam na nating may DISTINCT na halaga:
• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Barangay Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan na may halagang P77.199 million; at
• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Brgy. Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan, na may halaga ring P77.199 million.
Ang dalawang kontrata na ito ay na-award sa Wawao Builders noong February 1, 2023.
Pero take note Mr. President, mayroon kaming kopya ng dalawang sulat na may petsang January 30, 2023 or two days before, na pirmado ni Wawao Builders Manager Mark Allan Arevalo, na nagsasaad na sila ang winning bidder para sa dalawang projects. Advance mag-isip, SI WAWAO Mr. President.
Ang Notice to Proceed, para sa dalawang contracts pareho rin ng petsa – February 13, 2023. Subalit mahigit isang linggo pa lamang ang nakakalipas mula sa petsa ng Notice to Proceed, naniningil na para sa 50% project accomplishment rate ang Wawao Builders.
Ang nakasaad na 50% accomplishment rate na ito ay resulta ng isinagawang trabaho nila diumano mula February 13 to 20 – 7 days, Mr. President.
Ayon sa mga sales invoice na hawak namin, na-release naman ang hinihinging kabayaran noong February 23, 2023.
Ang kalahati ng kabayaran at retention fees, again, for both projects – ay naatado naman sa release mula April hanggang July, 2023. Sabay rin ang mga petsa ng bayaran kung saan hindi rin nagkakalayo ang mga halaga.
Ang 50% ng proyekto, isinagawa ng 7 araw. Ang sunod na kalahati, ginawa ng mahigit apat na buwan. Not for one project, but for two, Mr. President. NAPAKAHUSAY, NAPAKAGANID.
KAWAWAO NA KAWAWAO TALAGA ANG MGA PILIPINO sa Wawao BUILDERS.
MBB GLOBAL PROPERTIES
Mr. President, Bulacan has proven to be the national sewer of corrupted flood control projects. Hindi NA NAKAPAGTATAKA NA marami ANG nagkakalkal ng record ng mga contractors sa BUONG probinsya. Isa na rito ang Globalcrete Builders na kumubra ng P2.195 bilyon flood control projects mula 2018 hanggang 2024 sa Bulacan pa lamang.
Ang Globalcrete ay pagmamay-ari ng mga Maglanque ng Candaba. SI MAYOR RENE MAGLANQUE ANG PRESIDENTE NOONG 2024 NA KUNG SAAN MAY MGA KONTRATA NA SIYA MISMO ANG PUMIPIRMA NA DAPAT SANA AY NAG DIVEST SIYA.
This should not come as a surprise, Mr. President. In the words of Mayor Maglanque and I quote, “Isa akong malaking kontratista, kilala sa buong Pilipinas na nangongontrata. At bilyon bilyon ang proyekto ko sa buong Pilipinas.”
Growing family business, indeed. Pero hindi pa dito natatapos ang “kwentong pamilya.” The web of family names reveals a web of stories.
Ang mga Maglanque rin ang may-ari ng MBB Global Properties Corporation na siya namang nagmamay-ari ng Wyndham Garden Hotel sa Clark, Pampanga NA ITINAYO SA HALAGANG HALOS ISANG BILYONG PISO.
Gayunman, kung babalikan, hindi lamang Maglanque ang kilalang family name na nagmamay-ari ng MBB Global Properties. NEVERTHELESS, the 2024 General Information Sheet of the MBB Global Properties Corporation would show the following:
1. MACY MONIQUE MAGLANQUE, President
2. SUNSHINE M. BERNARDO, CORPORATE SECRETARY
3. FATIMA GAY B. (BONOAN) DELA CRUZ, TREASURER
Uulitin ko po – Maglanque, Bernardo, Bonoan — MBB. Coincidentally, these are known surnames of today’s flood control saga: Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque, ang Patriach ng Maglanques of Globalcrete Builders, contractor of multi-billion worth of flood control projects. DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, na kamakailan lamang ay nag-early retirement matapos masangkot sa maanomalyang flood control; at syempre pa, dating DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Maglanque, Bernardo, Bonoan — MBB, Mr. President.
Kayo na po ang mag-“connect the dots”. By the way, sina Macy Maglanque, Sunshine Bernardo at Fatima Gay Bonoan Dela Cruz ay anak ng mga nabanggit na opisyal ng gobyerno. KAYA NAMAN PALA ANG PALAGING DEPENSA NI DATING DPWH SECRETARY BONOAN – ISOLATED CASE LANG DAW ANG NAKITA NI PANGULONG BONGBONG MARCOS NA GHOST PROJECT SA BULACAN. AYAW NA SIGURO NI BONOAN NA MAUNGKAT PA SA IMBESTIGASYON ANG GLOBALCRETE.
Saan ba hahantong ang lahat ng ito, Mr. President? Our people are growing impatient – AND ANGRY. But we are not in the business of quick fixes and band-aid solutions.
The newly installed Secretary of Public Works and Highways, Vince Dizon, has hit the ground running to weed out the corruption in the agency. Investigations are running their course in both chambers of Congress. The President shows no sign of wavering in this fight.
We are on the right trajectory in getting to the bottom of this systemic rot and punishing to the fullest extent of the law those who have corrupted us.
Gayong ang prosekusyon ay mandato ng ehekutibo, titiyakin nating may ambag ang ‘oversight functions’ ng Senado sa pagpapanagot ng mga sangkot.
Lahat ng MAY KINALAMAN sa pagnanakaw — mapa-kontraktor o empleyado ng DPWH O MAMBABATAS MAN — ay dapat isama sa kasong kriminal na isasampa.
We respectfully urge the DPWH to refer this matter for the filing of criminal cases, including multiple violations of Article 217 in relation to Articles 48 and 171 par. 4 of the RPC or Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents. For one, the falsification of documentation, particularly the use of manipulated photos in contractors’ progress billing reports, later certified by DPWH officials, is a blatant violation of this provision.
MR PRESIDENT, EVEN IF WE DO AWAY WITH SAID COMPLEX CRIME AND FILE CASES FOR MALVERSATION ALONE, kung ang tampok na halaga ay HIGIT P8.8 million, reclusion perpetua o pagkakakulong ng 20 YEARS AND ONE DAY TO 40 years ang parusa.
Next is the prosecution for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019)—Section 3(e) (causing undue injury to the Government or giving a private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence) and Section 3(g) (entering, on behalf of the Government, into contracts manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to it)— and Section 8 in relation to R.A. 1379 (unexplained wealth).
We ALSO strongly endorse the filing of charges for violation of R.A. 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Law. Mr. President, sapat naman pong basehan ang nakakapangilabot na laki ng halaga ng mga anomalya sa flood control — bilyones po ang pinag-uusapan nating nauwi sa ghost projects. Ang marangyang pamumuhay ng mga sangkot na opisyal ng DPWH, at ang daang milyong kaya nilang ipatalo sa casino, ay kabilang SA magpapatunay sa paglabag sa batas na ito. These facts show that the accumulated ill-gotten wealth has undeniably breached the minimum threshold for Plunder, which is at P50 million pesos.
Dahil ang bawat isang maanomalyang kontrata ay isang hayagang paglabag sa batas, malinaw po na natutugunan nito ang requirement ng Anti-Plunder Law, na nagsasaad na ang ill-gotten wealth ay dapat nagmula sa paulit-ulit o serye ng mga gawain upang makaipon ng yaman sa pamamagitan ng pandaraya.
Mr. President, we likewise detail the infractions of the “BGC Boys” in connection with their gambling spree.
Sa paggamit ng fictitious names o aliases upang itago ang kanilang identities sa mga casinos: Easily, Mr. President, this is a clear violation of Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or the Use of Fictitious name and concealing true name.
To further sustain the use of their pseudo-identities, the BGC Boys used fake driver’s licenses to gain entry into casinos, thereby violating Section 31, Article II of R.A. 4136, which expressly outlaws the making, use, or possession of licenses in imitation or similitude of those legally issued by the LTO.
Sa actual na garapalang paglalaro sa casino, ito po ay violation ng Presidential Decree No. 1869; R.A. 6713, and various memorandum circulars, prohibiting and penalizing government officials for entering and much more, for playing in casinos.
Mr. President, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended, is likewise violated as the proceeds of graft and plunder are transacted and converted by purchasing casino chips and subsequently cashing them out after minimal gaming, thereby disguising the true source of the funds.
Considering the glaring violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act by these “big-time gamblers”, we urge the AMLC to immediately initiate an action for the freezing of the bank accounts of these individuals and the subsequent prosecution for violating the law itself.
Finally, Mr. President, umaapaw din ang kinahaharap na kasong administratibo ng mga DPWH officials na ito. Among these are Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, Gross Neglect of Duty, and/or Conduct Prejudicial to the best interest of the service, violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Code of Conduct pertaining to the practice of their profession as regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Our goal is not only punitive, but also preventive. We do it through reforms in our legislation:
Amendment of R.A. 4566, as amended by P.D. No. 1746 or the Contractors’ License Law, to institutionalize the perpetual ABSOLUTE ban of blacklisted contractors found to have ghost and substandard projects, and higher penalties for conflicts of interest brought by interlocking positions in related industries or entities.
Amendment to increase penalties for conflicts of interest, especially those public officials and employees who may also act as contractors under Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Transparency initiatives in the budget process and accountability measures in the planning and budgeting of infrastructure projects. Kung walang detailed architectural and engineering design (DAED), wala dapat pondo. DPWH should also publish DAED, Program of Works, and Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA).
Mr. President, more than ever, we need people speaking up, not talking down on the efforts we have built. Words such as “wala ring mangyayari diyan,” “wala naman nakukulong,” or “umpisa lang yan, malilimot rin yan” do not help our cause but only embolden those who have robbed us of our HARD-EARNED TAXPAYERS’ MONEY.
IN MY FIRST PRIVILEGE SPEECH, I SPOKE ABOUT THE FLOODED GATES OF CORRUPTION. TODAY WE TURNED OUR SIGHT TO A DARKER PLACE — THE FLOODED GATES OF HELL. THERE, WE CAN FIND THOSE WHO ROB THE FILIPINO PEOPLE DROWNING NOT IN FLOOD WATERS BUT IN SINS AND MORAL DECAY. SANA, SA LALONG MADALING PANAHON, MALUNOD ANG MAY MGA KASALANAN SA DAMI NG KASONG KANILANG HAHARAPIN.
MR PRESIDENT, THESE PEOPLE HAVE REDUCED THE LIVES OF OUR FLOOD-STRICKEN COUNTRYMEN INTO LIVING HELL.
IT IS TIME TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY RIGHTLY DESERVE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I applaud and thank you sir Senator P. Lacson for your quick, timely investigation. You really did not waste time. Stay healthy, humble and safe. All the very best.