Flood control corruption probe to continue despite impeachment – Ejercito

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will continue to go after those behind flood control project anomalies, even as the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte is in progress, Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito said in a recent statement. “The preparations of the Ombudsman for filing criminal charges against those involved in the flood control projects scandal are ongoing. The Ombudsman said eight ‘cong-tractors’ are next to be charged,” Ejercito said in Filipino. “The real culprits must be identified and held accountable, particularly ‘cong-tractors’ and those who started allocables,” he added. READ: Blue ribbon panel to resume flood control probe after Sona Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it would file charges against at least eight House members allegedly involved in companies that secured government contracts for flood control projects despite a conflict of interest. On May 12, the Ombudsman said it received the partial report of the Senate blue ribbon committee recommending that criminal complaints be filed against some legislators, intermediaries, and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Ejercito allayed fears that the impeachment proceedings would derail the Senate’s efforts to look into the controversial flood control projects. “There are those saying that the impeachment is being used to cover up the flood control issue. That’s not true. The investigation is not yet done, and we will make sure that it will continue. Nobody should be able to evade [being held to account] for squandering public funds,” he said. The Senate impeachment trial started on July 6, with the prosecution presenting its witnesses in support of the fourth impeachment article, which accuses Duterte of betraying the public trust by making grave threats against the life of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Despite the ongoing proceedings, Ejercito said the Senate would continue fulfilling its legislative and oversight functions, including deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget. “The Senate cannot stop working. While the impeachment trial is ongoing, budget [deliberations] must also keep going, along with other investigations. Accountability and good governance are both important,” he said. READ: Tinio: Where are other ‘big fish’ in flood works investigation? As chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Ejercito vowed to pursue a transparent and accountable budget process. “Every peso coming from the taxes of the people should go to programs that Filipinos really need. The funds set aside for flood control cannot be wasted or stolen while communities continue to get flooded,” he said. “We understand the anger and dismay of our countrymen. So let’s further intensify our monitoring of every centavo of the public funds. We need to regain public trust by passing a budget that’s honest, clear, and has no room for corruption,” he said. /atm