Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761109191153cropped-photo-collage.png.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo of Rivera couple from the Facebook page of &quot;Kap. Noel “Bong” Rivera&quot; and Photo of the Office of the Ombudsman by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — A group on Wednesday filed complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Rivera, his wife, Concepcion Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera, and DPWH Tarlac 1st District Engineer Neil Farala over alleged collusion to secure government contracts worth P600 million for a company owned by the couple.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/disacayas-says-corrupt-officials-used-them-in-anomalous-bidding-1114">Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs &#x27;used&#x27; them in flood control anomalies</a></div><p>The complainant, Pyra Lucas, founder of United Pilipino Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC), alleged Rep. Rivera signed around 30 government contracts for his own company, since 2018.</p><p>“Sa nakikita namin, ito ay hindi karapat dapat bilang isang congressman. Hindi siya nag-divest, siya mismo ang nakikitang pumipirma sa mga kontrata ng DPWH,” Lucas said.</p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>“Ito yung Tarlac 3G [Construction &amp; Development] Corporation, na pagmamay-ari ni Congressman Noel Rivera at ng kanyang asawang si Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera. Ang amount na nakita po namin dito ay around P600 million plus the contract na siya mismo ang pumipirma,” she added.</p><p>Lucas claimed the District Engineer knowingly awarded contracts to the lawmaker and his wife, whom she said also served as the corporation’s treasurer.</p><p>“Nagsabwatan sila, definitely conspiracy ito kasi… alam ng District Engineer na congressman siya pero binibigyan siya ng kontrata, siguro gamit ang kanyang impluwensya,” Lucas said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">&#x27;Mahiya naman kayo&#x27;: Marcos orders probe on possible corruption in flood control projects</a></div><p>“Yung asawa niya… siya yung ingat-yaman ng kanilang korporasyon. So definitely may kinalaman siya,” she added.</p><p>Rep. Rivera, in a statement Thursday said he had yet to receive a copy of the complaint. He also denied any involvement in corruption, and said he is ready to face the allegations against him.</p><p>&quot;Mariin ko pong itinatanggi na ako po ay nasangkot sa anumang uri ng korapsyon. Malinis po ang aking konsensya,&quot; he also sad.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMBUDSMAN URGED TO INVESTIGATE</strong></div><p>Lucas urged the Ombudsman to investigate the couple’s alleged mansions, landholdings, and resort properties.</p><p>“Yung unexplained wealth yung mga mansions nila, yung mga resort nila sa Zambales, yung mga lupain nila, meron silang more or less 8 hectares sa isang lugar… yung isang mansion is apat ang bahay at ang kinatitirikan ay 7 hectares sa San Vicente,” Lucas said.</p><p>&quot;Marami silang luxury cars, yun ay pina-iimbestigahan din namin… In just short period of time, nakapag-accumulate sila ng ganun,” she added.</p><p>Before becoming a congressman, Rivera served as Barangay Captain for San Francisco, Tarlac.</p><p>The respondents face allegations of violating the Anti-Plunder Act, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, unexplained wealth provisions, and the Government Procurement Act.</p><p>They are also accused of abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty.</p><p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will review the complaint, which also accuses the three of abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty.</p><p>Lucas said she also submitted the evidence to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure investigating on anomalous projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sl1daHU6e7M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FbReeAdqIQw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The complainants urged the Ombudsman to investigate the couple’s alleged mansions, landholdings, and resorts, and other properties.</p>

The complainants urged the Ombudsman to investigate the couple’s alleged mansions, landholdings, and resorts, and other properties.

Tarlac congressman, vice mayor wife, DPWH engineer face plunder, graft complaints

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Tarlac congressman, vice mayor wife, DPWH engineer face plunder, graft complaints

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 22, 2025 01:05 PM PHT

|

Updated October 23, 2025 04:47 PM PHT

Read More:

flood control

ombudsman

rivera

Noel Rivera

Concepcion

Evelyn Rivera

DPWH

Neil Farala

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