House of Representatives Stands Firm Against Corruption
House Speaker Martin Romualdez has emphatically stated that the House of Representatives will never tolerate corruption. He assured the public and the business sector that the chamber fully supports initiatives to thoroughly investigate those allegedly involved in corrupt practices.
Romualdez expressed his acknowledgment of a strong statement issued by 30 of the country’s largest and most influential business groups. These organizations condemned rampant graft and corruption in government agencies, particularly within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units (LGUs), and the Commission on Audit (COA).
Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
“I welcome and respect the strong statement made by our partners in the business community and civil society calling for an end to corruption in government,” Romualdez said. “Their concern echoes the very principles of transparency, accountability and integrity that the House of Representatives has committed to uphold.”
He emphasized, “Let me be clear: The House of the people will never condone corruption, whether in public works, local governance, or any other area of government service. Allegations of wrongdoing must be investigated thoroughly and addressed decisively.” Furthermore, the speaker affirmed his full support for independent scrutiny and fair prosecution to ensure that those betraying public trust face legal consequences.
Concrete Steps Toward Reform
Romualdez highlighted the 20th Congress’s decisive actions to reform the budget process. “These reforms are not mere rhetoric—they are concrete actions designed to ensure that every peso in the national budget is allocated properly, spent prudently, and accounted for responsibly,” he stated. These efforts aim to restore public trust and reinforce accountability in government spending.
Business Groups Demand Independent Investigations
The business groups praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s strong stance against corruption but stressed that his remarks must be matched with independent investigations. They called for an impartial body to conduct probes, prosecute corrupt officials, imprison those found guilty, and recover stolen assets.
In a joint statement, the groups urged, “Our call therefore is not just to ‘moderate your greed.’ Our collective call to these corrupt officials is — Please stop! Have mercy on the suffering people.” They expressed concern that corrupt officials might continue exploiting the public despite the president’s warnings, describing such acts as treasonous and unpatriotic.
Ongoing Investigations and Conflict of Interest Measures
Both the House and Senate are conducting separate inquiries into questionable flood control programs. However, fears of impropriety have arisen since some lawmakers have been linked to contractors involved in anomalous projects. To address potential conflicts, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon said the infrastructure committee would defer to an independent third-party authority if investigations touch on lawmakers’ involvement.
At the first hearing of the mega panel, the infrastructure committee announced it will require members to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to maintain fairness during the probe.
Presidential Condemnation Sparks Investigations
The investigations intensified following President Marcos’s strong condemnation of officials and firms allegedly profiting from kickbacks amid severe flooding. The president called on these individuals to feel shame for their actions.
This condemnation followed Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s claim that nearly half of the country’s nearly P2 trillion flood control funds from 2011 may have been lost or misused. Subsequently, the president released a list of contractors, prompting observers to draw connections between these contractors and several politicians, including Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co, Senate President Francis Escudero, and former Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya.
While Co has yet to respond, Escudero dismissed the allegations as a “demolition job.” Discaya denied the existence of ghost projects during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.
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