House Flood Control Projects Investigation to Involve Third-Party Probe
The ongoing House investigation into flood control projects will defer to a third-party authority if lawmakers’ involvement surfaces, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said. The probe aims to uncover anomalies in flood control initiatives, but concerns about conflicts of interest have been raised.
Ridon acknowledged that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed skepticism about the House’s capacity to conduct an impartial investigation, citing alleged links between lawmakers and contractors. “Mayor Magalong has mentioned several issues that are not nice regarding this flood probe,” Ridon said, adding that while he does not want to dignify some of the harsh statements, the concerns about impartiality are valid.
Referral to Third-Party Probe If Lawmakers Named
Ridon emphasized that if any legislator is implicated during the hearings, the House will grant them the right to respond but will then recuse itself from further investigation. “We will endorse it to a future third-party probe or to the executive branch,” he explained. This approach aims to maintain the integrity of the investigation and avoid conflicts of interest within Congress.
The House committee on public accounts, led by Ridon, has been gathering testimonies and receiving briefings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) since early July. However, Ridon clarified that a formal investigation will be conducted by three separate House panels: public accounts, public works and highways, and good government and public accountability.
Calls for Independent Investigation Grow Louder
Mayor Magalong and other officials have called for an independent probe into flood control projects, alleging corruption and the use of contractor “fronts” linked to lawmakers. House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos also agreed, stating that Congress cannot effectively investigate itself.
Despite these views, Ridon insisted that the House inquiry remains necessary. “There are flood control issues that do not involve lawmakers,” he said. He added that many flood control projects might include names of legislators, contractors, or neither, so the investigation should proceed where appropriate.
House Probes Complement Third-Party Investigations
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin expressed support for third-party investigations but noted that House hearings serve a valuable role. They allow complaints from communities to reach DPWH officials, facilitating immediate action and transparency.
The spotlight on flood control infrastructure intensified after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned government officials and contractors involved in alleged kickbacks during his recent State of the Nation Address. “They should be ashamed of themselves,” the President stated, underscoring the urgency of accountability.
Allegations and Political Links Surface
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned that nearly half of the country’s nearly P2 trillion budget allocated for flood control projects since 2011 may have been lost due to mismanagement. This alarming figure calls for a thorough review of all flood control undertakings.
President Marcos later released a list of contractors suspected of irregularities. Observers quickly noted connections between these contractors and prominent politicians, including Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senate President Francis Escudero, and former Pasig mayoral candidate Sara Discaya.
While Discaya and Co have not issued statements, Escudero dismissed the allegations as a “demolition job.” However, he admitted that one of the major contractors mentioned had contributed to his 2022 senatorial campaign.
Escudero also faced criticism after reports revealed he inserted P142.7 billion for flood control projects into the 2025 national budget during bicameral conference committee discussions, just before the bill’s ratification and the President’s signing.
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