Senate Leader Questions Legitimacy of Flood Control Firms
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva recently expressed strong suspicions that Wawao Builders and St. Timothy Construction Corporation might be dummy companies. He suggested these firms were possibly lent licenses to secure flood control projects with the government. This assertion came during a press interview following the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on questionable flood control contracts held on Monday.
Villanueva highlighted the prevalence of what he called “license for rent” schemes, noting, “It looks like they are dummy companies, no? Yung diniscuss namin sa floor kahapon na, kamakalawa, if I’m not mistaken, na ang dami talagang nagpapahiram ng lisensya. License for rent talaga.” This points to a broader issue where companies borrow or rent licenses to win government deals.
Denials and Silence from Key Players
During the Senate panel hearing on September 1, Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, owner of St. Timothy Construction, firmly denied any involvement in irregular flood control projects. Meanwhile, Mark Allan Arevalo, general manager of Wawao Builders, chose to exercise his right against self-incrimination when questioned.
Officials reported that insider tips suggested the Discayas family might be lending out their licenses to various firms. Villanueva confirmed, “Alam natin, bawal ’yun. Pero, klaro ’yan eh. Klaro ’yan eh, diba? ’Yung hearing, klaro ’yan. Even [former Public Works Secretary Manuel] Bonoan made mention na totoo na nagpapahiram [at] nabebenta [ng lisensya].” Such admissions underline the seriousness of the alleged license lending and selling practices.
Call for Transparency from the Discayas
Senator Villanueva challenged the Discayas to come clean and admit if they lent licenses to multiple companies, enabling them to secure government contracts. He emphasized their operational capacity to manage such large-scale projects but highlighted the loopholes exploited, stating, “They have the capacity to really run such [an] operation as big as that. So, talagang pinapahiram nila, may sinasubcontract nila. Yung binanggit ko sa floor, ’yung subcontracting loophole, ’yung joint venture loophole, dun sila umiikot eh.”
Denial of Personal Involvement in Flood Programs
Villanueva firmly denied any personal funding or involvement in flood control programs. When asked about interactions with former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, he clarified that Alcantara was commonly seen with many senators and secretaries visiting the President, not exclusively with him.
He said, “Ano ba ’yung transaction? District engineer siya. Lahat ng senador, lahat ng secretary na pumunta sa presidente ng Pilipinas, nandun, nakakasama siya. So, ’yun ba, is an evidence, nasangkot? Bakit si Joel lang yung tinuturo? Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng picture nilang lahat. Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng video nilang lahat. So, bakit? Bakit ako? Bakit ako? Kasi nagpapagulo sila. Gusto nilang guluhin.”
This statement underscores his frustration over being singled out amid broader investigations.
Ongoing Scrutiny of Flood Control Contracts
The Senate continues to investigate the flood control projects amid growing concerns over misuse of licenses and questionable subcontracting practices. Villanueva’s remarks shed light on systemic issues within government contracting, particularly the use of dummy companies to bypass regulations.
Community members and local leaders urge transparency and accountability as the inquiry progresses, emphasizing the need to protect public funds and ensure flood control projects are effectively implemented.
For more news and updates on flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
