Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has approved the request of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against several lawmakers and government officials allegedly involved in the controversial flood control projects across the country.
The confirmation came from Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, who said the order was signed following ICI’s formal request dated October 8. The commission’s request included high-ranking legislators, former senators, and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as private individuals linked to what it described as “ghost projects and substandard flood control implementations.”
Among those named in ICI’s letter were Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, Senator Chiz Escudero, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and former senators Bong Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay. Other officials on the list include Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, businessman and Special Envoy to China for Trade, Investment and Tourism Maynard Ngu, and several members of the House of Representatives and DPWH district engineers.
The ILBO serves as a precautionary measure to alert the Bureau of Immigration should any of the individuals attempt to leave the country while investigations are ongoing. While it does not constitute a travel ban, it allows authorities to monitor the movements of those implicated in the probe.
The ICI also invited Romualdez, resigned Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co., and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to appear before the commission on October 14. According to the invitation, Romualdez will be asked to explain his knowledge of budget allocations and DPWH flood control projects, while Pangandaman will discuss the release of unprogrammed funds and the oversight of alleged ghost projects.
Romualdez’s office confirmed receiving the invitation and expressed his willingness to cooperate. “Rep. Romualdez welcomes the opportunity to cooperate with the Commission and fully supports its objective of promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance,” the statement read.
The ICI’s probe aims to uncover irregularities in flood control projects that reportedly involved billions of pesos in public funds. The DOJ has yet to disclose whether the commission’s findings will lead to the filing of criminal or administrative charges against those named in the order.