Benguet Rep. Eric Yap could be the first sitting congressman to be arrested in connection with questionable flood control projects, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, citing “conclusive financial exchange” between the lawmaker and contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya.
Remulla said Yap is among 20 members of the House of Representatives who could face jail time by January, although only half have direct links to the Discayas and other contractors.
The Interior chief said two senators could also be detained.
“(Yap) will be the first, I think. There’s been a conclusive financial exchange between the accounts of the Discayas and Eric Yap,” Remulla said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel.
“I think we have 20 (lawmakers) that are expected, but the definite ones, I think there are 10 with direct financial links to the Discayas, to Eric Yap, to all these contractors,” he added.
Remulla said the prosecution and conviction of the lawmakers implicated in the flood control mess “will not surpass the month of June.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced the Court of Appeals has issued a freeze order on bank accounts, assets, and aircraft linked to anomalous flood control projects allegedly involving Yap and his brother, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap.
Mr. Marcos said the order also covers properties of Silverwolves Construction Corp. which has been linked to unfinished flood control projects in La Union. The Ombudsman earlier said the Benguet lawmaker is the “beneficial owner” of Silverwolves although he reportedly divested a few years ago.
More than P16 billion flowed through Silverwolves’ transactions between 2022 and 2025, most of which were tied to Department of Public Works and Highways flood control contracts, the President said.
Some 280 bank accounts have been frozen, along with 22 insurance policies, three securities accounts, and eight aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters linked to Sky Yard Aviation.
Mr. Marcos said the freeze order was intended to prevent the sale or dispersal of suspected unlawfully acquired wealth and to ensure that public funds can be recovered, especially for communities heavily affected by flooding.
Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co was among the first to be charged before the Sandiganbayan over flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, but he remains out of the country.
Aside from Co, also implicated in the case were several DPWH-Mimaropa officials and Sunwest executives for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
