Flood corruption suspects jailed by Christmas – Dizon

Some of the perpetrators of the flood control scandal —including former Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jay-pee Mendoza - could be in jail by Christmas, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said yesterday.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

Independent Commission for Infrastructure chairman Andres Reyes and Interior Secretary Jovic Remulla inspect the Department of the Interior and Local Government's detention facility (inset) for suspected links to flood control anomalies at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas yesterday.

(MICHAEL VARGAS)

Dizon, who filed charges for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and malversation of public funds before the Office of the Ombudsman on Sept. 13, said contractor Sarah Discaya of St. Timothy Corp. may also be arrested and jailed before Christmas.

Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza and Discaya are among the first batch of DPWH officials, contractors and other personalities charged in connection with the anomalous flood control projects that have rocked the country.

"I think they will all be spending their Christmas in jail," Dizon said in Filipino over dzBB radio.

According to Dizon, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told him that the first batch of people charged for stealing billions of pesos in government funds through flood control anomalies would be "the first to go to jail."

Dizon is confident that the malversation complaints they filed against over 20 people before the ombudsman on Thursday will prosper, noting the pieces of evidence gathered, such as affidavits of residents, in relation to the alleged ghost project in Davao Occidental and a substandard flood control structure in La Union.

"I am confident of the evidence we have," Dizon said.

Malacañang renewed its appeal yesterday for the public to remain patient and trust the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in carrying out its probe on flood control projects.