By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a “lifestyle check” on all government officials amid the ongoing probe into the alleged irregularities in flood control projects, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
During a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Usec. and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that the President’s directive covers all the agencies involved in anomalous flood control works, beginning from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Hindi po natin maikakaila na mayroong mga DPWH officials na sinasabing involved at malamang ay magsimula sila doon,” Castro said.
The Palace Press Briefer noted that there are government agencies and entities who may initiate the lifestyle check, such as the Ombudsman, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and even DPWH itself.
The Presidential directive also signals other oversight agencies, such as the BIR, Commission on Audit, Bureau of Customs (BOC), as well as local government units (LGUs), to intensify their own investigations.
“Nagsalita na po kasi ang Pangulo, so dapat ang bawat ahensiya ay tumupad sa kanilang tungkulin. Asahan po natin dapat at bigyan po rin natin sila ng karampatang tiwala at kapag may nakita din tayong anomalya sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga, magiging kuwestiyonable rin po ang kanilang pagtatrabaho at malamang masama rin sila sa pag-iimbestiga,” Castro said.
Marcos also directed a continuing review of DPWH records on top of the administration’s probe, which seeks to identify those responsible for the projects that were supposed to mitigate flooding.
Castro assured that the administration will not spare anyone who will be proven accountable for misuse of public funds.
“Magdidemanda po talaga, sasampahan ng kaso ang dapat masampahan ng kaso. Walang sisinuhin, walang malapit sa puso, walang kaalyado—kung sinuman ang involved dito, sasampahan ng kaso,” she stressed.
“Katulad ng ginagawa po ng Pangulong Marcos Jr., pinapaimbestigahan niya po lahat para po malinis at maiayos kung ano po ang naging pagkakamali sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects.” she added.
According to Malacañang, the President has so far inspected 11 flood control projects in Marikina, Iloilo, Bulacan, and Benguet after receiving reports through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.
As of 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the complaints portal has received a total of 9,020 reports related to flood control projects nationwide.
“Muling hinihikayat ng pamahalaan ang taumbayan na makialam at isumbong sa Pangulo ang mga kuwestiyonableng flood control projects,” Castro told the public.
-jpv
