At A Glance
- The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin against former House Speaker, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez; former Senate President, Senator Chiz Escudero; former senator Bong Revilla; Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva; and 28 other individuals in connection with its ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects.
UST condemns corruption in flood control projects in the Philippines, urging transparency, accountability, and swift action to protect flood-prone communities. (MARK BALMORES /MANILA BULLETIN / file)
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin against former House Speaker, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez; former Senate President, Senator Chiz Escudero; former senator Bong Revilla; Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva; and 28 other individuals in connection with its ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects.
Of these 28 remaining individuals, 15 are congressmen.
An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was also requested for the following: Mayor Nancy Binay and her staff, Carlene Yap; Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife, Marilou Laurio-Lipana; Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar; and the country’s special envoy to China for trade and businessman Maynard Ngu.
Incumbent House members on ICI’s list were congressmen Roman Romulo of Pasig, Jojo Ang of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list, PM Vargas of Quezon City 5th District, Arjo Atayde of Quezon City’s 1st district, Nikki Briones of AGAP Party-list, Marcy Teodoro of Marikina’s 1st district, Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Benjie Agarao of Laguna’s 4th district, Odie Tarriela of Occidental Mindoro, Reynan Arrogancia of Quezon’e 3rd district, Antonieta Eudela of Zamboanga Sibugay’s 2nd district, Dean Asistio of Caloocan’s 3rd district and Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City’s 6th district.
Former congressmen Bem Noel of An Waray Party-list, Marvin Rillo of Quezon City’s 4th district, and Teodorico Haresco of Aklan’s 2nd district were also listed.
So too were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineers Loida Busa of Quezon City’s 2nd district, Ramon Devanadera of Cebu City, Johnny Protesta Jr. of Quezon City’s 2nd district, Arturo Gonzales Jr. of Quezon City and Rillo’s aide Bogs Magalong.
ICI Chairman retired Supreme Court (SC) justice Andres Reyes Jr. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, sent a letter to DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for an “urgent request for issuance” of ILBO against the 33 individuals.
According to Reyes, an initial investigation related to the anomalous flood control projects has put “the subjects in a relevant position that operates to make him [them] an inevitable personality during the fact-finding process”.
“The timely issuance of ILBO is of utmost necessity to enable the Commission to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people,” he added.
Reyes also requested for the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which is under DOJ, to immediately inform the body as well as other law enforcement agencies “of any information regarding the impending travel of the subjects”.
