President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has flagged more than PHP16 billion in transactions made by a construction firm involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects and tied to Benguet Rep. Eric Yap.
In a video message Tuesday, Marcos confirmed that the assets and properties of Silverwolves Construction Corporation were among those frozen by the Court of Appeals (CA) as part of the efforts to recover stolen public funds originally intended for flood control projects.
Marcos noted that most of Silverwolves’ PHP16-billion funds were tied to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects.
“Naglabas na ang Court of Appeals ng freeze order laban sa mga bank accounts, ari-arian, at sasakyang panghimpapawid na may kaugnayan sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects na iniimbestigahan ngayon ng gobyerno (The Court of Appeals has issued a freeze order against bank accounts, properties and air assets linked to the allegedly anomalous flood control projects under investigation by the government),” he said.
“May mahigit PHP16 bilyon ang pumasok sa mga transaksiyon ng Silverwolves mula 2022 hanggang 2025, na karamihan ay may kaugnayan sa mga flood control projects ng DPWH (More than PHP16 billion entered Silverwolves’ transactions from 2022 to 2024, most of which were related to DPWH flood control projects),” Marcos added.
Silverwolves has been linked to unfinished flood control projects in La Union.
The Ombudsman earlier claimed that the Benguet lawmaker is the “beneficial owner” of Silverwolves although he reportedly divested a few years ago.
Marcos said the CA has also issued a freeze order on the personal accounts and assets of Yap and his brother, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap.
The party-list lawmaker was accused of receiving money through bank transfers from controversial contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya.
Marcos said the freeze order covers 280 bank accounts, 22 insurance policies, three securities accounts and eight aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters connected to aviation company Sky Yard Aviation Corporation.
He said the government sought the freeze order to prevent the sale or transfer of assets, while the investigation into the flood control mess continues.
“Kailangan natin ang mga freeze order na ito para hindi maibenta ang mga ari arian at para maibalik natin sa ating mga kababayan ang bawat pisong pinaghihinalaang ninakaw (We need these freeze orders so that the properties cannot be sold off and so that we can return to our countrymen every peso that was allegedly stolen),” Marcos said.
“Para sa mga Pilipinong paulit-ulit binabaha, nawawalan ng bahay at kabuhayan. Hindi na maaaring nakawin ang pondong para sa inyo at basta na lamang tumakas sa hustisya (For Filipinos who are repeatedly flooded, losing their homes and livelihoods, funds meant for you can no longer be stolen and used to escape justice),” he added. (PNA)
