Andaya: Contractors are being used as fronts for Aremar
Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. INQUIRER.net file photos / NOY MORCOSO
NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur, Philippines — Some contractors are only being used as fronts to win infrastructure projects before funds are funneled into the company owned by the in-laws of Budget Chief Benjamin Diokno, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. alleged on Thursday.
During a public hearing here, Andaya said several contractors intimated to him the scheme being done so Aremar Construction Corp. could bag millions of projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
One bidder–usually a “triple A” contractor–only needs to win a certain project, the Camarines Sur 2nd District congressman said. The winning bidder would receive a commission by doing so, he added.
“Kapag nakuha na ang kontrata ipapasa na ng winning bidder, usually a tripple A contractor, ang kontrata ibibigay naman po sa local contractor na pinapaboran o dikit sa opisyal na nagpalabas ng programa. May commission lamang ang winning contractor. Moro moro lang daw ang nangyayari sa bidding,” Andaya explained.
He also bared a copy of a deposit slip from a contractor who won a bidding for an infrastructure project in Bicol. He did not name the contractor who deposited P11.4 million to Aremar.
INQUIRER.net photo / Pathricia Ann V. Roxas
“A total of 11,416,000 found its way to the bank account of Aremar on October 4, 2018,” he said.
Bulacan-based firm CT Leoncio Construction and Trading also did the same scheme, according to Andaya.
With this “evidence,” the lawmaker said he would seek the help of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to gather all the bank transactions of CT Leoncio and Aremar.
Andaya meanwhile, in a separate interview with reporters, said seven other companies were being used as fronts for Aremar for projects in Sorsogon.
An INQUIRER report earlier bared Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) records showing that Casiguran mayor Edward Hamor is the biggest shareholder of Aremar.
Hamor is the husband of Sorsogon Vice Gov. Ester Hamor, the mother of Diokno’s son-in-law, Romeo Sicat Jr.
Hamor is a re-electionist while Ester is running for Sorsogon mayoral post. /jpv
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