Good luck sa ating lahat!
On this note, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s internal investigation to curb corruption in the wake of the mess involving substandard and ghost flood control projects.
Lacson, in radio interviews over the weekend, said measures such as the DPWH’s creating an anti-corruption body and a travel suspension on its employees are not enough to convince the public that the agency can cleanse itself of corruption.
“Good luck to all of us if they will investigate themselves. Imagine, it’s like assigning an investigating panel made up of inmates in Bilibid to see if there are irregularities in the New Bilibid Prison,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB.
In Filipino: Lacson sa Internal Anti-Corruption Investigation ng DPWH: Good Luck sa Ating Lahat!
In a separate interview on DWIZ Saturday afternoon, Lacson said these measures, as well as supposed lifestyle checks, may not be enough to curb corruption because what is needed is no less than the “logical conclusion” – charging, convicting and jailing the culprits.
“The lifestyle check is a good start so investigating agencies will know where to focus. But for me, the bottom line is that there should be people charged, convicted and jailed. Nothing short of that will discourage those involved in corruption,” he said on DWIZ.
He added those involved in corruption are watching developments unfold, to see if there are those who are actually punished. If they do not see people being punished, they will be emboldened to continue. he said.
“If you are in the bureaucracy and you see those who are punished, you will think twice before following in their footsteps. But if you see them not being punished, you will be tempted to join them,” Lacson said.
Still, Lacson said it is good that the public is becoming aware and taking action, including going to the sites of flood control projects and disclosing what they learned.
He also voiced hopes that netizens will also post photos and videos of flood control projects that were properly implemented, so they can serve as good examples. He said he is considering offering one month’s pension to see a properly implemented, corrupt-free and properly working project.
“People are now awake and aware. We must not let go of this because we have gained momentum. Hopefully this will lead to positive developments,” he said.
‘Shared Responsibility’
In the DZBB interview, Lacson also reiterated his call for full transparency in the budget, so lawmakers can have a “shared responsibility” for the funding of projects they insert in the budget.
Without this transparency, he said there will continue to be multiple insertions in the budget, starting from the National Expenditure Program where DPWH officials invite lawmakers during the budget call to insert their projects; to the House and Senate versions of the budget bill, and all the way to the bicameral conference committee.
“There are insertions in the NEP, in the House, in the Senate, and the bicam. That is a multiple whammy for us taxpayers,” he said.
“If we want full transparency we must trace who made what amendments so there will be shared responsibility. If something goes wrong with the implementation of a project, the lawmaker shares responsibility for it,” he added.
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Lacson sa Internal Anti-Corruption Investigation ng DPWH: Good Luck sa Ating Lahat!
Good luck sa ating lahat!
Ito ang pagkwestyon ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo ang internal investigation ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) para sugpuin ang korapsyon matapos mabunyag ang gulo kaugnay ng substandard at ghost flood control projects.
Ayon kay Lacson, sa mga panayam niya sa radyo nitong weekend, hindi sapat ang mga hakbang gaya ng pagbuo ng DPWH ng anti-corruption body at travel suspension sa kanilang mga empleyado upang kumbinsihin ang publiko na kaya nitong linisin ang sarili laban sa korapsyon.
“Good luck to all of us. Kung sila magiimbestiga sa sarili nila, good luck sa ating lahat. Sila mag-iimbestiga sa sarili nila? Imagine mo na lang, para kang nag-assign ng investigating panel sa Muntinlupa para imbestigahan mo kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZBB.
Sa hiwalay na panayam sa DWIZ nitong Sabado ng hapon, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi sapat ang mga hakbang na ito, pati na ang umano’y lifestyle checks, dahil ang kailangan ay walang iba kundi ang “logical conclusion” — ang pagsasampa ng kaso, pagkakakulong at pagpaparusa sa mga may sala.
“Magandang hakbang para magkaroon ng basehan ang investigating agencies. Pero sa akin ang bottom line kailangan may makasuhan, maparusahan at makulong. Nothing short of that will discourage ang mga nanonood pa, ang mga nag-aabang kung anong mangyayari,” aniya.
Dagdag niya, ang mga sangkot sa korapsyon ay nakamasid lamang sa takbo ng imbestigasyon, upang makita kung may tunay na napaparusahan. Kapag walang naparusahan, lalo lamang silang mahihikayat na magpatuloy.
“Pag nandoon ka sa bureaucracy at nakita mong may naparusahan at maraming naparusahan, magdadalawang isip ka kung susundan ang yapak ng mga naparusahan. Pero pag walang naparusahan, very encouraging yan, sasabihin nila walang naparusahan e di gagawa na rin ako,” ani Lacson.
Gayunpaman, sinabi ni Lacson na maganda ring maging mas mulat at aktibo ang publiko, kabilang ang pagbisita sa mga flood control projects at pagbabahagi ng kanilang natuklasan.
Hinikayat din niya ang netizens na mag-post ng mga larawan at video ng mga proyektong maayos na naipatupad, para magsilbing magandang halimbawa. Aniya, pinag-iisipan niyang i-alok ang isang buwang pensyon para lamang makakita ng isang proyekto na talagang maayos, walang korapsyon at gumagana ng tama.
“Nagising na. Huwag na natin bitiwan ito kasi meron nang momentum. Sana tuloy-tuloy at maipakita na may magandang pangyayari,” aniya.
‘Shared Responsibility’
Sa panayam sa DZBB, muling iginiit ni Lacson ang kanyang panawagan para sa full transparency sa budget upang magkaroon ng “shared responsibility” ang mga mambabatas sa mga proyektong kanilang iniinsert sa budget.
Kung walang transparency, ani Lacson, magpapatuloy ang mga multiple insertions sa budget, simula sa National Expenditure Program kung saan iniimbitahan umano ng DPWH ang mga mambabatas sa budget call upang ipasok ang kanilang mga proyekto; hanggang sa bersyon ng Kamara at Senado ng budget bill, at pati na sa bicameral conference committee.
“Sa NEP may insertion. Pagdating sa House bago ipasa ang General Appropriations Bill, maraming insertion. Pagdating sa Senate may insertion. Pagdating sa bicam may insertion. Kaya multiple whammy ang mamamayan, ang taxpayers,” aniya.
“Kung gusto natin full transparency kailangan ma-trace natin sino ang nag-introduce ng amendments para meron silang shared responsibility kung sakaling something went wrong sa pag-implement ng proyekto at least meron siyang responsibility di mo nabantayan ikaw nag-insert niyan,” dagdag niya.
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