Latest news with #P545-billion
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Chiz says flood control contractor a campaign donor, denies links with projects
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday denied involvement in any flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country. As this developed, Escudero said Lawrence Lubiano, president of the 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 disclosed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. "For the record, wala akong kinalaman sa pag-identify, paggawa ng program of work, pag-bid, pag-award, pagbayad, pag-inspeksyon ng anumang proyekto sa pamahalaan sa Sorsogon man o sa labas ng lalawigan ng Sorsogon," the Senate president said at a press conference. (For the record, I have nothing to do with identifying, making a program of work, bidding, awarding, paying, or inspecting any government project whether in Sorsogon or outside the province of Sorsogon.) Marcos revealed Monday that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors. Five of these 15 contracts, the President said, have projects in almost all regions nationwide. One of these contractors is the Centerways Construction and Development, which Escudero said bagged P5.4 billion in flood control projects in Bicol Region and Central Visayas. He said this amount translated to 0.998% of the total contracts disclosed by Marcos. Escudero affirmed that Lubiano is a friend of his and is also from Sorsogon, but denied that he had any links with the contractor's businesses. He also emphasized that most of the contracts by Centerways were obtained before he became a senator again. Before seeking another term in the upper chamber, Escudero served as governor of Sorsogon from 2019 to 2022. "Wala at hindi ko alam nga kung ano man 'yun dahil hindi ako bahagi ng kanyang kumpanya at wala akong pakialam sa kanyang negosyo," Escudero said when asked if he ever helped Lubiano when he came back to the Senate in 2022. (I had nothing to do with it and I don't know what that is because I'm not part of his company and I don't care about his business.) Escudero also questioned the "malicious and ill-timed" release of a report linking him with Lubiano. Demolition job? The Senate President alleged that those part of what he called a "demolition job" were those in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly from the House of Representatives. "Hindi principally kasamahan namin dito sa Senado. Sa pagkakaalam namin sa labas pero hindi ko alam kung may tumutulong, ka-kuntsaba, o kakumplot pero taga-labas," he said. (The party behind this is not principally a colleague here in the Senate. As far as we know, s/he is from the outside, but I do not know if anyone is helping or is complicit from outside.) "Obvious naman siguro 'yun kung sino ang may pinaka-gusto ng impeachment," he added. (It's probably obvious who wants to push for the impeachment the most.) In his last State of the Nation Address, the President vowed to ensure that those involved in anomalous flood control projects would be held accountable. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
