MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday exposed a potential conflict of interest involving at least two members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

The senator raised the apparent conflict of interest of Engineers Erni Baggao and Arthur Escalante who own construction companies and bagged government contracts.

Lacson seeks probe of 2 PH contractors' board members for conflict of interest

Lacson called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) to investigate the matter and file criminal and administrative charges if necessary.

"Paging PCAB - Instead of an outright denial, you should at least look into allegations against your own people’s improper conduct," Lacson said, referring to PCAB's statement dismissing the reported "accreditation for sale" scandal that hounded the group.

Lacson recently said he got information from some private contractors that PCAB would take care of the paperwork for accreditation in exchange for at least P2 million.

"Aside from reports of corruption in your ranks, there is potential conflict of interest involving your 2 board directors in violation of RA 6713," Lacson posted on X.

He said public records showed both Baggao and Escalante signed contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as presidents of their own construction companies for government projects - while sitting on the PCAB board.

Baggao was reappointed for a three-year term as PCAB board member in Sept. 2023, while remaining as an authorized managing officer of EGB Construction, a contractor for government projects.

The PCAB Board's duties include limiting the operations of constructors to the bounds of their classifications and/or restrictions; and investigating violations of the law.

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