Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon assured on Thursday that the government will not stop until all funds lost to anomalies in infrastructure projects are taken back.

He said that efforts to recover the massive wealth stolen by those involved in the anomalies—including former DPWH officials, contractors, and other individuals—have just begun, reported RH 29 Boy Gonzales.

“Alam kong nagtatawanan tayong lahat noong kinuha natin ‘yung sikat na payong na pinagmalaki nila Discaya sa TV, pero naghahalong galit at tuwa e, ‘tong araw na ‘to. Galit dahil nakikita natin ngayon, lahat ng ibebenta ngayon, pera nating lahat ‘to … So may kasamang galit pero at the same time, may kasama ding tuwa e, na finally, mababawi na natin lahat ‘to at makakakuha na tayo ng hustisya … Paunti-unti, pero ito na ang simula,” Dizon promised.

The public works chief made the statement after surveying seven of the 13 luxury vehicles recovered from the controversial Discayas, which have been put up for auction. The umbrella he spoke of was a Rolls-Royce feature, stashed in a special compartment in one door.

Dizon added that the auction was a symbolic event, with warrants of arrest having been issued against personalities involved in the flood control project scandal and their stolen wealth being retaken, as ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“So very symbolic itong mga ito, no. First, warrants of arrest, ilalabas na. At, unang mga pera ng mga kababayan na ibabalik na sa kanila. Sa ating lahat. Kinikilabutan nga ako ano, kasi ito na ‘yung hinihintay ng mga kababayan na pananagot. Na mayroon nang makukulong, at mayroon nang perang maibabalik. Pero uulitin ko, umpisa pa lang ito,” he told the press.

Dizon thanked Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno for his efforts. Over ₱100 million can potentially be regained through the auction, Dizon said, which is but a fraction of the billions embezzled, but is a start.