Tarlac solon faces plunder raps

A private anti-crime group filed a plunder complaint and multiple other charges Wednesday against Tarlac Third District Representative Noel Rivera, his wife, Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera, and a local official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the alleged misuse of more than P500 million in public funds.

The United Filipino Against Crime and Corruption (UPACC) lodged the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman as the group accused the couple and DPWH Tarlac 1st District Engineer Neil Farala of securing government contracts amounting to approximately P600 million for a construction company owned by the Riveras.

UPACC founder Pyra Nucum Lucas alleged that Congressman Rivera, who began his political career as a barangay captain in 2010 before becoming congressman in 2022, owns the company, Tarlac 3G Construction & Development Corporation.

Lucas claimed that Rivera personally signed the contracts with the DPWH for projects awarded to his firm.

“He is a sitting congressman since 2022 and was reelected this 2025, but he is also a contractor, and what’s worse, he is the one signing the contracts with the DPWH,” Lucas said.

Lucas pointed out that the roughly 30 contracts awarded to Tarlac 3G are not limited to flood control projects, but also include the construction of infrastructure such as health centers. Lucas stressed that it was improper for a sitting congressman to be a contractor without divesting, especially when he signs the government’s contracts.