Filing a civil forfeiture case against those linked to anomalies in flood control projects is easier than pursuing criminal charges, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Wednesday, as reported by RH Jecelle Ricafort.

In an ambush interview at the office of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in Taguig City, Dizon explained that, based on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) guidance, a civil forfeiture case only requires proof that a person’s income does not match their declared assets.

He said such discrepancies can be verified through the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials, where a mismatch between income and properties may immediately raise a presumption of illegality.

“Halimbawa na-freeze na ‘yong assets ng mga opisyal, kapag tinignan ‘yong kanilang SALN na ngayon eh open na naman eh doon pa lang makikita mo na kung nagtutugma. At kung hindi nagtutugma ang presumption doon agad is illegal ‘yon,” Dizon said.

According to him, the Office of the Solicitor General will use these findings as the basis for filing civil forfeiture cases before the Regional Trial Court.

Dizon also said the government can more easily recover public funds from seized assets, citing the case of vehicles linked to former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez.

He added that efforts are underway to locate and recover three air assets owned by former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, which have reportedly been taken out of the country.