The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that no assets of elected officials linked to the flood control anomalies have been frozen.
Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres made the statement during the Senate sub-panel hearing on the proposed 2026 DOJ budget. Senator Rodante Marcoleta had asked if the agency had filed a request with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze the assets of politicians allegedly involved in the issue.
Andres said he could provide the names of those whose assets were affected but clarified that the freeze orders only covered personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). “I do not have copies of that [right now]. And if I may clarify, I think the freeze orders have not touched politicians. I mean, government officials like DPWH officials are already part of the freeze orders,” Andres said.
He reiterated that while DPWH officials’ assets were included, no elected officials were covered. “Government officials, meaning DPWH officials — yes. But elected officials, I do not,” he added.
Andres’ statement contradicted an earlier claim made by former Justice Secretary and now Ombudsman Boying Remulla. Remulla had previously said that the AMLC, acting on the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), secured freeze orders from the Court of Appeals against the assets of Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
The clarification from the DOJ followed online reports claiming that the assets of some politicians had already been frozen. Andres maintained that these claims were inaccurate and that only DPWH personnel were included in the existing freeze orders.
