The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and various government agencies will hold a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting this Monday afternoon to discuss the ongoing inter-agency coordination efforts on asset recovery relative to the multibillion flood control project scandal.
The meeting aims to outline strategies for enhancing collaboration among agencies to ensure accountability and transparency in the recovery process. Participants will also evaluate current progress and identify any potential obstacles that may hinder the restoration of public funds.
Anticipated attendees at the conference comprise officials from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, among others.
The ICI is responsible for investigating irregularities in flood control projects involving lawmakers, including senators and members of the House of Representatives; public works officials; and private contractors.
Last week, former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara returned P110 million to the government, an amount he allegedly acquired from flood control projects. This restitution is a part of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to recover funds and is also a prerequisite for Alcantara’s consideration as a state witness in ongoing investigations.
Alcantara was responsible for managing flood control initiatives across 13 localities in Bulacan, which included several flood-prone areas such as Hagonoy, Baliwag, Calumpit, and Malolos.
In October, the ICI also organized a meeting with concerned agencies to discuss the framework for interagency coordination, information sharing, and legal procedures related to the recovery of public funds and assets from irregular and anomalous transaction projects.
The technical working group outlines operational guidelines, timelines, and priority actions to fully support national asset recovery and accountability initiatives.
ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said the conference will address methods to prosecute all individuals involved in the corruption scheme related to the flood control projects.
Reyes stated that justice alone is not enough to heal the nation and that all government agencies are working together to pool resources to recover the assets of criminals involved in these projects.
Representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, Insurance Commission, Land Registration Authority, Land Transportation Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Office of the Solicitor General, and Securities and Exchange Commission are also part of the TWG meeting.
