Sparked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the launching of the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, the nation has finally gotten involved against substandard and ghost flood control projects – but the final test still looms ahead, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson said this final test lies in the certainty of punishment – prosecution, conviction and imprisonment – against all those involved, especially the so-called big fish.
“It took the 4th SONA of the President, followed by the launching of (the) sumbongsapangulo.ph website to get the nation involved in monitoring and reporting substandard and ghost flood control projects all over the country. The final test lies in the ‘logical conclusion,'” he said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Huling Pagsubok ng Nagising na Sambayanan vs Kinurakot na Flood Control Projects, Nasa “Logical Conclusion”
Lacson, in interviews over the weekend, stressed that without the certainty of punishment, the corruption will continue, along with the loss of lives and taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
“I hope there will be big fish that will be charged, prosecuted, convicted and jailed so their example will not be followed. In my law enforcement days, this was called certainty of punishment. If there is no accountability or certainty of punishment, those involved in corruption will be emboldened to continue – and those who are not may be encouraged to engage in it,” he said in Filipino.
The President, in his SONA last July 28, had expressed dismay over the substandard and ghost flood control projects that not only cost trillions of pesos in taxpayers’ money, but also lives and property.
Last Aug. 20, Lacson delivered a privilege speech where he detailed the extent of corruption that marred several flood control projects.
Also, Lacson noted that more than P1.9 trillion was allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) alone for flood control projects since 2011, yet this failed to solve the problem of flooding. He added at least half of the P1.9 trillion may have been lost to corruption.
He added that while he is heartened that the public has become involved in monitoring and reporting tainted flood control projects in part due to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, he wants it to be expanded to cover all infrastructure projects.
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Lacson: Huling Pagsubok ng Nagising na Sambayanan vs Kinurakot na Flood Control Projects, Nasa “Logical Conclusion”
Bunsod ng ika-apat na State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at ng paglulunsad ng “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, nakilahok na sa wakas ang sambayanan laban sa mga palpak at guniguning flood control projects — ngunit may nakabitin pang huling pagsubok, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo.
Ayon kay Lacson, ang huling pagsubok na ito ay nasa katiyakan ng pagpaparusa: ang makasuhan, mahatulan at makulong ang lahat ng sangkot, lalo na ang mga tinaguriang “malalaking tao.”
“It took the 4th SONA of the President, followed by the launching of (the) sumbongsapangulo.ph website to get the nation involved in monitoring and reporting substandard and ghost flood control projects all over the country. The final test lies in the ‘logical conclusion,'” ani Lacson sa isang post sa X.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson sa mga panayam nitong weekend na kung walang katiyakan ng pagpaparusa, magpapatuloy ang korapsyon, kasabay ng patuloy na pagkasayang ng buwis ng taumbayan at pagkawala ng mga buhay.
“Sana may malalaking tao na makasuhan, ma-prosecute, ma-convict, at makulong para nang sa ganoon huwag na pamarisan… Ang tinatawag kong maski nasa law enforcement pa ako, ang certainty of punishment, ang accountability. Pag walang makitang accountability o certainty of punishment, mawiwili ang dating gumagawa at ma-eencourage ang di dati gumagawa,” aniya.
Sa kanyang SONA noong Hulyo 28, ipinahayag ng Pangulo ang pagkadismaya sa mga palpak at guniguning flood control projects na hindi lamang sumasayang ng trilyong piso mula sa buwis ng mamamayan, kundi kumikitil din ng buhay at sumisira ng kabuhayan at ari-arian.
Noong Agosto 20, idinetalye ni Lacson sa isang privilege speech ang lawak ng korapsyon sa likod ng mga palpak at guniguning flood control projects.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na mahigit P1.9 trilyon ang inilaan sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) lamang para sa mga flood control projects mula pa noong 2011, subalit bigo pa rin itong maresolba ang problema ng pagbaha. Dagdag pa niya, posibleng hindi bababa sa kalahati ng P1.9 trilyon ang nawaldas dahil sa korapsyon.
Bagama’t ikinatuwa ni Lacson na nakikilahok na ang publiko sa pagmamanman at pagrereport ng mga kuwestyonableng flood control projects sa pamamagitan ng “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, iginiit niya na dapat itong palawakin upang masaklaw ang lahat ng infrastructure projects.
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