Philippine appeals court freezes more assets linked to flood control scandal

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the Court of Appeals has issued more freeze orders covering bank accounts, properties and aircraft linked to the alleged multibillion-peso fraud in government flood control projects, as he pushes to have key suspects jailed before Christmas.

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In a video statement on Facebook, Mr. Marcos said the freeze covers assets of Silverwolves Construction Corp. and Sky Yard Aviation Corp., as well as the personal accounts of Benguet Rep. Eric G. Yap, Party-list Rep. Edvic G. Yap and several others under investigation.

More than P16 billion in transactions passed through Silverwolves from 2022 to 2025, mostly tied to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control contracts, he said. Authorities also froze 280 bank accounts, 22 insurance policies, three securities accounts and eight aircraft linked to Sky Yard Aviation.

Mr. Marcos said the freeze orders prevent potential asset disposal and strengthen efforts to recover public funds. “We need these freeze orders to stop the sale of assets and ensure that every peso suspected of being stolen can be returned to our fellow citizens,” he said in Filipino.

He added that eight DPWH personnel in Davao Occidental have expressed intent to surrender to the National Bureau of Investigation.

On the same day, Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” C. Discaya turned herself in to the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters after Mr. Marcos’ announcement of an impending arrest warrant for her.