7 days ago
JV Ejercito wants jail time for corrupt individuals in flood control projects
Senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday called for the arrest of big personalities linked with irregularities in flood control projects, raising a possible "collusion" between government officials and private contractors.
Ejercito, who serves as Senate deputy majority leader, stressed that there is 'a special place in hell' reserved for those who are engaged in ghost and fraudulent flood control projects in the country.
'Kailangan talagang may managot, kailangang may makulong, kasi otherwise walang magtatanda eh. I think ito ang problema ng ating bansa—walang natatakot kasi wala namang big fish na nahuhuli,' the senator said in a press conference.
(Someone really needs to be held accountable, someone needs to go to jail, because otherwise no one will correct their action. I think this is the problem of our country—no one is afraid because there are no big fishes being caught.)
'Kung meron man, small fries. Pero subukan niyong magpakulong ng talagang mga matataas na opisyal diyan para magtanda,' he added.
(If anyone, they are just small fries. You have to arrest really big officials so that they will learn.)
Ejercito also answered in affirmative when asked if Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan should step aside amid the investigation into the failed flooding projects.
'Pero si Secretary Bonoan, sa tingin ko, with his advanced age I think he wants a legacy. Pero 'yung mga nasa baba niya, lahat 'yan marami tayong naririnig…even the Usecs, Asecs, and director levels,' he alleged.
(But I think Secretary Bonoan wants to leave a legacy with his advanced age. But we hear a lot about the people under him, even the Usecs, Asecs, and those in director levels.)
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors. Five of these contracts, the President added, have projects in almost all regions nationwide.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos vowed to ensure that those involved in anomalous flood control projects would be held accountable.
Earlier on Tuesday, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero denied involvement in any flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country.
Escudero, however, said Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections. Centerways Construction and Development is one of the contractors that bagged P545-billion flood control contracts, as revealed by Marcos. –NB, GMA Integrated News
