Condemning Ghost and Padded Flood Control Projects
Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito strongly condemned those involved in ghost and padded flood control projects, stating that such acts deserve a special place in hell. According to officials, these fraudulent projects not only deceive the public but also undermine efforts to protect communities from flooding.
While contractors are expected to profit from flood control initiatives, some still choose to exploit the system through ghost projects and padding costs. “Aside from using substandard materials and poor workmanship, it’s even more disheartening if there are ghost projects involved. We have information that such things exist, so that’s already way too much,” Ejercito said during a Senate forum.
The Depth of Deception and Call for Accountability
Ejercito emphasized that those involved no longer deserve second chances. “I think people like that no longer deserve any more chances — that kind of behavior is already at a hellish level, right? None of us are saints here, but let’s not be demons either. That’s just too much,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.
He further highlighted the pure wickedness of profiting from non-existent projects, stressing the urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable. Community members noted that no one fears committing such illegal acts because no major offenders have been punished yet.
Enforcing Consequences to Deter Corruption
Officials reported that sending high-ranking government officials to jail could set a powerful precedent. “No one is afraid to abuse power, no one is afraid to steal because no one gets jailed here and they still get away with it,” the senator said. “So there really needs to be someone held accountable, and someone truly punished for their crimes so that others will learn and be afraid.”
Ejercito also proposed regularly reshuffling district engineers to prevent corruption at the local level. Citing statements from other senators, he noted that corruption often starts in these positions. “Why don’t we start regularly reshuffling these DEs [district engineers], so that politicians, including us, can’t hold on to them?” he questioned.
Government Probes and Public Concerns
This call for reform comes amid ongoing government investigations into nearly 10,000 flood control projects constructed under the current administration. Local leaders have raised concerns about discrepancies between the provinces most vulnerable to flooding and those that received the most flood control projects.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself expressed worries about this mismatch, fueling public demand for a fresh congressional inquiry to ensure transparency and accountability.
For more news and updates on flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
