MANILA — The government has begun recovering assets linked to irregularities in infrastructure projects, with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon saying efforts to retrieve stolen public funds are only starting and will continue until every peso is returned to the people.

The statement follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to immediately recover money allegedly stolen from flood control projects and to ensure the prosecution of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, contractors, and others involved in the anomalies.

“Unang-una, alam niyo naman na ang kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo natin, hindi lang dapat makulong ‘yung mga kailangang managot dito sa pagnanakaw ng pera nating lahat. Pero kailangan ding maibalik ‘yung pera ng mga kababayan natin. And this is the beginning. Ito na ‘yung umpisa,” Dizon said after inspecting seven of the 30 vehicles seized from contractors Curlee and Sara Discaya.

According to Dizon, the government expects to generate more than PHP 100 million from the public auction of the seized vehicles.

He said arrest warrants will soon be issued against individuals linked to the anomalies and assured that the government will continue tracking down additional stolen assets to return them to public coffers.

“Napaka-importanteng simbolo at umpisa ng sinabi ng Pangulo natin na hindi natin pwedeng palampasin ito na hindi maibabalik ang pera ng mga kababayan natin,” Dizon added.