Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday announced that he will meet with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) next week to discuss the freezing and eventual seizure of assets belonging to individuals allegedly involved in corruption tied to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects.
Dizon stressed that holding perpetrators criminally liable is not enough, and emphasized the need to recover stolen public funds. “It is not enough to go to jail… People’s money must be returned,” he said.
The move comes as part of a broader effort ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which includes filing criminal cases and working with the newly created Independent Commission on Infrastructure.
Dizon revealed that investigations are ongoing and that non-bailable cases are being filed weekly with the Office of the Ombudsman. The second case, he said, will be filed next week and will involve projects in Oriental Mindoro.
He also assured that contractual provisions such as performance bonds and warranties will be enforced to guarantee proper completion of infrastructure projects.
