The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is taking aggressive steps to recover public funds allegedly misused in flood control projects, with Secretary Vince Dizon personally coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“Ngayon pong hapon ako po ay pupunta mismo personal sa opisina ng Anti-Money Laundering Council at magrerequest na po tayo ng mga asset freeze order sa AMLC, dahil po kailangan talaga mabilis nating i-freeze itong mga assets na ‘to,” Dizon told Dos Por Dos on DZRH.

”At eventually kapag napatunayan na ninakaw nila ang pera ng mga kababayan natin, kailangan po eh i-forfeit ito at ikompiska. Lahat po ng mga sasakyan, lahat po ng mga pera, lahat po ng mga bahay pera po ng taong bayan ‘yan at kailangan po mabawi ‘yan,” Dizon added.

The move comes after the DPWH filed its first case last week with the Ombudsman, naming 25 individuals, including 20 DPWH officials and employees, and five contractors allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.

Dizon highlighted that this is only the beginning of multiple cases. “Base sa direktiba ng pangulo, nag-file na tayo ng kauna-unahang kaso… Tuloy-tuloy lang po tayo, una pa lang ito sa napakaraming mga kaso,” he said.

According to the DPWH Secretary, his legal experts advise that the AMLC can act on suspicion even without a formal petition.

“Napaktibay ng batas natin, halimbawa po, meron nang lumabas sa senate blue ribbon investigation, kahit wala pa pong petisyon, pwede na pong umaksyon ang AMLC. ‘Yon po ang ikaclarify natin at idudulog natin sa AMLC mamayang hapon,” Dizon stated, signaling that the government intends to move swiftly to secure assets linked to public fund misappropriation.

The DPWH emphasized that recovering misused funds is as critical as holding individuals accountable.

“Hindi po sapat ang pagpapakulong lang, kailangan maibalik natin ang pondo, kailangan po maibalik ang pondo ng bayan,” Dizon said, referring to the need to reclaim taxpayer money used in ghost or substandard projects.