The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it does not tolerate nefarious activities, following the arrest of four individuals involved in extortion, forgery, estafa and falsification of public documents for bogus projects.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier arrested four individuals who were using the name of BCDA President and CEO Aileen R. Zosa to advance their criminal activities.
In a statement, the BCDA chief lauded the NBI for arresting the scammers who used her name and forged her signature to extort money from private entities/individuals. Zosa assured the public that all of BCDA’s businesses are transacted with utmost integrity and transparency, as prescribed by law.
The four were identified by the NBI as Renato O. Mendiola Jr., Mark Jay Galang, Ayeh Grace N. Carreon, and Francis Elson. They were nabbed in an entrapment operation in Mabalacat City on March 27, 2023 by operatives of NBI-Anti-Fraud Division (NBI-AFD).
The NBI said the subjects were arrested after they received P120,000 in cash laced with marked money and a Metrobank check in the amount of P1.5 million issued in favor of subject Mendiola by the complainants from Teodoro Construction Company (TCC).
According to the subjects, the cash was intended for the staff of Zosa to defray the expenses of their outing activity in La Union.
On the other hand, the check will be given to Zosa as payment for the remaining balance of P2 million she allegedly demanded for her to sign the Notice of Award (NOA) in favor of TCC involving the construction of a nine-storey residential building at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, which turned out to be bogus.
BCDA previously issued a notice that all BCDA projects and properties for disposition are announced and published on the websites of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and/or the BCDA, on its official social media platforms, and/or advertised in a local paper of general circulation. It further warned the public not to enter into any transaction with individuals or parties who are not BCDA officials or without BCDA official authorization.
BCDA maintains that its procurement activities are above board, legal and in compliance with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Reform Procurement Act.
