Lacson: We’re Getting There in Freezing BGC Boys’ Assets

We’re getting there in freezing the assets of the so-called BGC Boys of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday as he said his office will furnish DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon with the evidence he needs to get the ball rolling.

“AMLC cannot freeze the accounts unless a formal complaint is filed against these people. We are getting there. My office will furnish DPWH Sec Vince Dizon with all the damning evidence in our possession so he can take action in this regard,” Lacson said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon, in response to questions on what the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is doing on the issue.

In Filipino: Lacson: Papunta na Tayo sa Pagpapa-Freeze ng Assets ng BGC Boys

In an interview on DZMM radio earlier Wednesday, Lacson said Dizon or the independent commission to be created by Malacanang to look into the flood control projects can file the charges, and that his office is prepared to furnish both with the needed evidence.

He added the evidence that his office has so far gathered include “hundreds of pages” of documentary and testimonial evidence. Lacson had cited part of the evidence in his second privilege speech on the flood control project mess last Tuesday.

In his privilege speech Tuesday, Lacson detailed the casino escapades of the five – sacked DPWH Region 4A OIC assistant regional director and ex-Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara; Bulacan OIC District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez; Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza; DPWH Engineer II Arjay Domasig; and Edrick San Diego.

Lacson said “open and shut” cases can be filed against the five for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1869; Republic Act 6713, and various memorandum circulars, prohibiting and penalizing government officials for entering and much more, for playing in casinos.

Cases can also be filed against them for using fictitious names and concealing their true names, the use of fake driver’s licenses, and violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act, where 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.”

“If a complaint can be filed say tomorrow, a request can be made to the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze their accounts,” Lacson noted.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he hopes the independent commission to be created by Malacanang will expand its coverage and include all other infrastructure “para talagang sustained ang effort (to ensure the effort is sustained).”

He also said he hopes the outrage over the flood control scandal should be a lesson for “nepo babies” and contractors against flaunting their wealth. “Ang mga tycoons nakita mo ba silang nag-flaunt? Bumalik lahat sa kanila (Do you see tycoons flaunt their wealth? Look, their flaunting of wealth has come back to haunt them),” he said.

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Lacson: Papunta na Tayo sa Pagpapa-Freeze ng Assets ng BGC Boys

Papunta na tayo sa pagpapa-freeze ng assets ng tinaguriang BGC Boys ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Binigyang-diin ito ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules, kasabay ng pahayag na ihahanda ng kanyang opisina ang lahat ng ebidensya na kailangan ni DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon upang makapagsimula ng aksyon.

“AMLC cannot freeze the accounts unless a formal complaint is filed against these people. We are getting there. My office will furnish DPWH Sec Vince Dizon with all the damning evidence in our possession so he can take action in this regard,” ani Lacson sa isang post sa X nitong Miyerkules ng hapon bilang tugon sa tanong kung ano ang ginagawa ng Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) hinggil sa isyu.

Sa isang panayam sa DZMM radio, sinabi ni Lacson na si Dizon o ang independent commission na lilikhain ng Malacañang upang imbestigahan ang flood control projects ang maaaring magsampa ng kaso, at handa ang kanyang opisina na ibigay ang kinakailangang ebidensya sa dalawa.

Aniya, kabilang sa ebidensyang nakalap ng kanyang opisina ang “daang pahina” ng dokumentaryo at testimonial na ebidensya. Ilan dito ay inilahad na niya sa kanyang ikalawang privilege speech hinggil sa flood control project mess nitong Martes.

Sa kanyang privilege speech, detalyado niyang inilantad ang casino escapades ng lima — sina dating DPWH Region 4A OIC assistant regional director at ex-Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara; Bulacan OIC District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez; Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza; DPWH Engineer II Arjay Domasig; at Edrick San Diego.

Ayon kay Lacson, maaaring magsampa ng open and shut cases laban sa lima dahil sa paglabag sa Presidential Decree No. 1869; Republic Act 6713; at iba’t ibang memorandum circulars na nagbabawal at nagpaparusa sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na pumasok at higit lalo, magsugal sa mga casino.

Maaari rin silang kasuhan dahil sa paggamit ng pekeng pangalan at pagtatago ng tunay na pangalan, paggamit ng pekeng driver’s license, at paglabag sa Anti-Money Laundering Act, kung saan ang mga perang galing sa katiwalian at plunder ay “transacted and converted by purchasing casino chips and subsequently cashing them out after minimal gaming, thereby disguising the true source of the funds.”

“If a complaint can be filed say tomorrow, a request can be made to the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze their accounts,” dagdag ni Lacson.

Samantala, umaasa si Lacson na palalawakin pa ng lilikhain ng Malacañang na independent commission ang saklaw ng imbestigasyon upang maisama ang iba pang infrastructure projects, “para talagang sustained ang effort.”

Dagdag niya, sana’y magsilbing aral ang flood control scandal sa mga nepo babies at contractors laban sa pagyayabang ng kanilang yaman. “Ang mga tycoons nakita mo ba silang nag-flaunt? Bumalik lahat sa kanila,” aniya.

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