We’re getting there, so let’s keep pushing to achieve a logical conclusion to the flood control project mess.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Friday after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Department of Public Works and Highways recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of graft, plunder and bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor. But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion: the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” said Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee looking into the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.
In Filipino: We’re Getting There: Lacson, Todo Suporta sa Pagsisikap para sa Logical Conclusion sa Isyu ng Flood Control
On Friday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson brought to the Ombudsman several boxes of evidence against Romualdez and Co, covering more than P100 billion worth of contracts involving Co’s Sunwest, Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp. from 2016 to 2025.
Singson added they expect additional documents from joint ground troops of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines that inspected several flood control projects.
In August and September, Lacson delivered two privilege speeches on the flood control projects where he detailed the corrupt practices behind substandard and ghost flood control projects – along with the systemic and brazen corruption in the DPWH. Such was the corruption that some of those involved became brazen enough to gamble away taxpayers’ money in casinos.
Lacson also furnished the ICI and the Office of the Ombudsman with copies of his privilege speeches along with related documents and evidence, to help these agencies go after those involved.
But Lacson pointed out that there is still a long way to go, as ICI Commissioner and former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson initially estimated that 15 persons per ghost project – or at least 1,200 persons for 80 initial suspected ghost projects – may face charges in connection with anomalous flood control programs.
“I will extend my full support by providing the mandated investigating and prosecution agencies with whatever documents and other evidence we have, to help achieve the logical conclusion with the prosecution, conviction and jailing of those involved,” Lacson said.
“We can all help in making those involved answerable. I will augment such efforts with whatever documents or other pieces of evidence we have,” he added.
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We’re Getting There: Lacson, Todo Suporta sa Pagsisikap para sa Logical Conclusion sa Isyu ng Flood Control
May patutunguhan na tayo, kaya dapat nating ituloy ang pagtulak para maabot ang “logical conclusion” sa isyu dulot ng mga maanomalyang flood control project.
Binigyang-diin ito ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes matapos irekomenda ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) at ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa Ombudsman ang pagsasampa ng mga kasong graft, plunder at bribery laban kay dating Speaker Martin Romualdez at ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor. But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion: the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” ani Lacson, na namumuno sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na nag-iimbestiga sa katiwalian sa likod ng substandard at ghost flood control projects.
Nitong Biyernes, dinala nina DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon at ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson sa Office of the Ombudsman ang ilang kahon ng ebidensya laban kina Romualdez at Co, na sumasaklaw sa higit P100 bilyong halaga ng mga kontratang kinasasangkutan ng Sunwest, Inc. at Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp. ni Co mula 2016 hanggang 2025.
Ani Singson, inaasahan pa nila ang karagdagang dokumento mula sa pinagsamang ground troops ng Philippine National Police at Armed Forces of the Philippines na nag-inspeksyon sa ilang flood control projects.
Noong Agosto at Setyembre, nagkaroon ng dalawang privilege speech si Lacson hinggil sa maanomalyang flood control projects kung saan dinetalye niya ang katiwalian sa likod ng palpak at guniguning proyekto, kabilang ang sistematiko at garapalang korapsyon sa loob ng DPWH. Sa tindi ng korapsyon, ilan sa mga sangkot ay nagawa pang ipang-gamble ang pera ng taumbayan sa mga casino.
Ipinaabot din ni Lacson sa ICI at sa Office of the Ombudsman ang mga kopya ng kanyang privilege speeches kasama ang mga kaugnay na dokumento at ebidensya upang makatulong sa paghabol sa mga sangkot.
Gayunman, iginiit ni Lacson na mahaba pa ang imbestigasyon, matapos tinaya ni ICI Commissioner at dating DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson na nasa 15 katao kada ghost project – o hindi bababa sa 1,200 katao para sa initial na 80 suspected ghost projects – ang posibleng makasuhan kaugnay ng anomalous flood control programs.
“I will extend my full support by providing the mandated investigating and prosecution agencies with whatever documents and other evidence we have, to help achieve the logical conclusion with the prosecution, conviction and jailing of those involved,” ani Lacson.
“We can all help in making those involved answerable. I will augment such efforts with whatever documents or other pieces of evidence we have,” dagdag pa niya.
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