04/09/2026
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AMLC FREEZES ASSETS OF UNNAMED LAWMAKER LINKED TO BILLION-PESO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured a Court of Appeals order freezing 55 bank accounts and four insurance policies linked to an unnamed lawmaker allegedly associated with a construction company that obtained billions of pesos worth of government contracts.
The Court of Appeals issued the freeze order on August 25, 2026, amid continuing investigations into alleged irregularities involving government infrastructure projects.
The AMLC has not publicly identified the lawmaker or the construction company covered by the latest order.
Based on information gathered from our sources and available records, the unnamed lawmaker is reportedly a congressman from Luzon. Sources also claim that a withdrawal or movement of funds allegedly took place shortly before the implementation of the freeze order. These details have not been independently confirmed by the AMLC or the Court of Appeals.
The latest development comes amid the continuing investigation into lawmakers previously identified by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as so-called “cong-tractors.”
THE EIGHT “CONG-TRACTORS” AND THEIR LINKED CONTRACTS
According to the ICI-DPWH referral, the eight lawmakers were linked, directly or through relatives, to construction companies that collectively secured about 1,301 public works projects worth ₱92.28 billion from 2016 to 2024.
1. JOSEPH “JOJO” LARA — JLL PULSAR CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
JLL Pulsar Construction was awarded 242 projects worth approximately ₱11 billion, according to the ICI. The commission said several stockholders were Lara's children and that Lara was previously an incorporator who held a substantial share in the company.
2. EDWIN GARDIOLA — NEWINGTON BUILDERS, LOUREL DEVELOPMENT AND S-ANG
Three companies linked to Gardiola's family obtained:
• Newington Builders Inc. — ₱13.1 billion from 123 projects
• Lourel Development Corp. — ₱2.1 billion** from 17 projects
• S-Ang General Construction and Trading — ₱9.2 billion** from 71 projects
Combined, the three firms accounted for approximately ₱24.4 billion in infrastructure contracts in the ICI's breakdown. Other reports have placed the total at around ₱24.6 billion.
3. JAMES “JOJO” ANG JR. — IBC INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS AND ALLENCON DEVELOPMENT
The ICI reported:
• IBC International Builders Corp. — ₱36.1 billion from 520 contracts
• Allencon Development Corp. — ₱4.2 billion from 77 contracts
Combined: approximately ₱40.3 billion. Ang was linked to the firms through his relationship to their chairman.
4. FRANCISCO “LALO” MATUGAS — BOOMETRIX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Boometrix Development Corp. was awarded 135 contracts worth approximately ₱8.7 billion. The ICI said the firm's majority stockholder was Matugas' nephew.
5. NOEL RIVERA — TARLAC 3-G CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Tarlac 3-G was awarded 72 projects worth approximately ₱2.3 billion from 2017 to 2024. The ICI identified Rivera as the firm's majority stockholder, chairman and president.
6. AUGUSTINA “TINA” PANCHO — C.M. PANCHO CONSTRUCTION
C.M. Pancho Construction received one project worth approximately ₱1.2 billion in the ICI's breakdown. The commission said the firm's stockholders were relatives of Pancho.
7. JERNIE JETT NISAY — JVN CONSTRUCTION
JVN Construction, identified by the ICI as a sole proprietorship owned by Nisay, received three projects worth approximately ₱73.7 million from 2021 to 2022.
8. ELIZALDY “ZALDY” CO — FS CO. BUILDERS AND SUPPLY
FS Co. Builders and Supply received 40 infrastructure projects worth approximately ₱3.8 billion from 2020 to 2024. The ICI said the company was a sole proprietorship owned by Co's sister and that a significant number of projects were undertaken through a joint venture with Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp.
WHY THE NAMES ARE RELEVANT
The ICI said the eight lawmakers appeared to have potential conflicts of interest involving their links to private construction companies that were awarded government infrastructure contracts.
The commission and DPWH recommended that the cases be investigated for possible violations of several laws, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, government procurement laws, and constitutional restrictions on lawmakers having financial interests in government contracts.
It is important to emphasize, however, that being named in the ICI referral or being linked to a contractor does not by itself constitute a final finding of guilt. The allegations remain subject to investigation, prosecution and due process.
WHO IS THE LAWMAKER COVERED BY THE NEW AMLC ORDER?
Despite the growing speculation, the AMLC has not publicly identified the lawmaker covered by the August 25, 2026 freeze order.
The fact that a lawmaker was previously named in the ICI investigation does not automatically mean that the same individual is the subject of the latest AMLC order.
For now, the identity remains officially undisclosed.
The question remains: WHO IS THE UNNAMED LAWMAKER WHOSE ASSETS ARE NOW UNDER A COURT-ORDERED FREEZE?
