8 'cong-tractors' face charges on ICI recommendation
Eight lawmakers have been recommended to be charged by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure for their alleged conflict of interest as being Congressmen and contractors at the same time. In a press briefing, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes named the lawmakers as Former Ako Bicol Partylist representative Elizaldy Co, and incumbents Edwin Gardiola, James Ang Jr., Jernie Nisay, Augustina Pancho, Joseph Lara, Francisco Matugas and Noel Rivera. Among the charges to be filed against them is the violation of Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices act, among others.
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00:09Anyway, hanggang ng hapon and good afternoon.
00:12I'm beside our executive director, Antonio Bariano Saga.
00:17Good afternoon.
00:19Today, we are recommending the filing of criminal and administrative charges
00:26before the Office of the Ombudsman for contractors involved in the anomalous flood control projects plaguing our country.
00:37These so-called contractors are those members of Congress or their partners or family members
00:45who own construction firms that receive project awards or obtain contracts from the DPWH.
00:55The subject of this joint referral is the 1,300 infrastructure projects awarded from 2016 to 2024
01:08to contractors that are related to House of Representatives members period.
01:15They are, number one, former representative Elisande Esco for ES Co Builder Supply.
01:26Number two, representative Edwin Guardiola for Newington Builders Incorporated, Laurel Development Corporation, and Esang General Construction and Trading Incorporated.
01:42Number three, representative James Ang Jr. for IPC International Builders Corporation, and Alencon Development Corporation.
01:57Number four, representative Jerni Nisai for JVN Construction and Trading.
02:07Number five, representative Augustina Pancho for CM Pancho Construction Incorporated.
02:20Number six, representative Joseph Lara for JLL Pulsar Construction Corporation.
02:30Number seven, representative Francisco Matugas for Bumetrix Development Corporation.
02:40And lastly, number eight, representative Noel Rivera for TARDAC 3G Construction and Development Corporation.
02:49Members of Congress are barred from having a financial interest directly or indirectly in any government contract, franchise, or special privilege during their term of office.
03:07Article 6, Article 6, Section 14, Article 6, Section 14, Article 6, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution outlines prohibitions for members of Congress regarding financial interest.
03:19It states that no member can be financially interested in government contracts, franchises, or special privileges during their term.
03:30They are also prohibited from intervening in government matters for their own personal gain or where their office could influence the outcome.
03:40Additionally, there are other laws against conflict of interest.
03:45This official appeared to have violated the code of conduct for government officials and the anti-graph and graph practices among others.
03:56All this information is being referred for further investigation.
04:01This congressman should not be engaged in private business activities that conflict with their official duties.
04:10They should not influence beads and awards.
04:14Members of Congress must not sway procurement processes nor should they participate in or benefit from government contracts.
04:26This practice should have ended decades ago.
04:36The longer we allow it to exist, the more it corrodes public trust.
04:43Let us tear down this abusive system one by one with every filing.
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