Mindoro Rep. Tarriela Among Officials Subject of Immigration Lookout Request

Occidental Mindoro Representative Leody “Ode” Tarriela is among over two dozen officials named in an urgent request for an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order filed by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a letter dated October 8, 2025, ICI Chairman Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. (Ret) sought the issuance of a lookout order against Tarriela and 28 other individuals, including senators, congressmen, local officials, and DPWH engineers.

The request stems from an ongoing investigation into alleged ghost flood control projects and substandard implementations of flood control projects involving officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and construction companies.

Among those named in the list are Leyte Congressman and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Sr., Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada, Former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and several other current and former legislators.

Also included are Mayor Maria Lourdes Binay Angeles, Commissioner Mario G. Lipana, and several district engineers.

The ICI justified the request by stating that issuing the lookout order “is of utmost necessity to enable the Commission to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people.”

The commission also requested that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) immediately inform it and other law enforcement agencies of any information regarding the subjects’ impending travel.

A lookout bulletin order prevents individuals under investigation from leaving the country while cases against them are being resolved.

As of press time, Representative Tarriela has not issued a statement regarding the matter.

The ICI was established under Executive Order No. 94 to investigate infrastructure-related irregularities.

CONG. TARRIELA’S EARLIER DENIAL

In an earlier statement, Tarriela categorically denied allegations made by contractors Curlee and Sara Discaya during Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings that he received kickbacks from flood control projects.

“Mariin po nating pinapabulaanan ang mga naging pahayag ni Mr. Pacifico Discaya sa isinagawang pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na nag-uugnay sa atin sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects. Wala po akong tinatanggap na anumang pera o pabor mula kay Mr. Discaya,” Tarriela said.

The congressman stressed that the implementation of infrastructure projects is under the mandate of the DPWH and that he has no involvement in any of its processes.

“Ang pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura ng pamahalaan ay tungkulin lamang ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Hindi natin alam at wala tayong kinalaman sa anumang proseso nito,” he added.

Tarriela explained that his role as a legislator is limited to proposing local projects such as roads, bridges, multipurpose buildings, classrooms, and public markets based on requests from barangays and municipalities for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

He clarified that the identification and funding allocation for large national government projects like flood control are the responsibility of the DPWH Regional or National Office, not individual congressmen.