ILOILO City — A citizens’ alliance in Antique has launched what it described as the “opening salvo” of a sweeping anti-corruption and environmental accountability campaign after filing the first wave of Ombudsman complaints over P7.3-billion worth of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects in the province.
The AMLIG Antique Alliance filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against more than 20 current and former government officials and private contractors, alleging irregularities in 91 DPWH contracts implemented form 2017 to 2025.
The complaints, filed Thursday, July 16, cover the first batch of five major infrastructure projects and accuse respondents of violating Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Presidential Decree No. 1586 (Environmental Impact System), Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), procurement laws, and other environmental regulations.
The respondents specifically include current and former DPWH Region 6 directors, Antique district engineers, officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), procurement officers, project engineers, members of Bids and Awards Committees, and executives of several construction firms, including Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., Allencon Development Corp., International Builders Corporation, A.M. Oreta & Co., Inc., and J.E. Tico Construction Co., Inc.
“This campaign is not merely about corruption. It is about environmental accountability, compliance with the law, and responsible use of public funds,” said Atty. Rolly Pedrina, chairman of the board of AMLIG Antique Alliance.
The first wave of complaints covers the following projects:
* Funda-Dalipe Coastal Road, Seawall and Esplanade in San Jose de Buenavista town (a project segment under the broader San Jose Coastal Road initiative consisting of 25 segments)
* Pandan-Ibajay Road (a critical segment out of approximately six segments)
* Maybunga-San Ramon Road (an extensive road network under the Laua-an-Bugasong-Barbaza Corridor, encompassing around 50 contracts, predominantly executed by Sunwest, Inc.)
* Laua-an Ridge View to Aklan River Road (another segment within the Laua-an-Bugasong-Barbaza Corridor); and
* Antique section of the Panay East-West Road in Valderrama town (a pivotal segment connecting Valderrama, Antique to Lambunao, Iloilo consisting of ten segments specific to the Antique section
“This is only the opening salvo. We are preparing additional complaints covering the remaining contracts under six major DPWH infrastructure programs in Antique,” said Pedrina, adding that there are 91 contracts in question.
The alliance alleged a recurring pattern of unlawful implementation, including:
* construction without mandatory environmental permits
* project segmentation to avoid comprehensive environmental impact assessments
* implementation without national and local clearances,
* retroactive acquisition of permits
* continued government fund releases despite alleged legal deficiencies, and
* construction within environmentally critical areas, protected habitats, river easements, forestlands and ancestral domains
According to the complainants, the projects resulted in environmental degradation, including damage to marine turtle nesting sites, fish sanctuaries, rivers, agricultural lands and portions of the ancestral domain of the Iraynon-Bukidnon Indigenous Cultural Communities.
Pedrina maintained that some projects proceeded despite revoked environmental clearances and said both contractors and government officials should be held accountable, including retired officials who were involved when the projects began.
The complainants are seeking a full Ombudsman investigation and the imposition of criminal and administrative sanctions, including the dismissal from government service of officials found liable.
“We have exhausted administrative remedies before resorting to the Ombudsman. We are now asking the proper institutions to perform their mandate and determine accountability where violations have been committed,” Pedrina said.
The alliance said it will await the Ombudsman’s action while preparing another round of complaints covering the remaining infrastructure contracts under review.
The over 20 respondents named in the initial complaints, include:
Private Contractors and Corporate Officers
* former congresman Zaldy Co (Sunwest)
* Uswag Ilonggo’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. (Allencon Dev’t. Corp.)
* International Builders Corporation and Allencon Dev’t Corp.
– officers from A.M. Oreta & Co., Inc. and J.E. Tico Construction Co., Inc.
Government Respondents
* Eight current and former DPWH-6 regional directors: Sanny Boy Oropel, Joel Limpengco, Jose Al Fruto, Tiburcio D.L. Canlas, Denise Maria Ayag, Nerie Bueno, Wenceslao Leano Jr., and Lea Delfinado
Antique District Engineering Officers
* Bernadeth Betsy Uy and Mark Anthony Alejo, along with various procurement officers, project engineers, and Bids and Awards Committee members
Environmental Agencies
* current and former officials of DENR Region 6, EMB Region 6,, and NCIP Region 6, including Raul Lorilla, Francisco Milla Jr., Ramar Niel Pascua, Dr. Sophie Manuel, and Princess May Alcarde-Oral
Respondents could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
Beyond the immediate respondents, AMLIG Antique Alliance has called for accountability from political leaders during whose terms, it claimed, the projects in question were planned, funded, and executed.
“We call on Sen. Loren Legarda to finally break her silence on the devastation these projects have brought to the province she claims to champion,” said Pedrina.
“Similar calls to speak out are being sounded to Gov. Paolo Javier and Cong. Antonio Legarda,” Pedrina added./PN
