Villanueva: No senator linked with contractors with most flood control projects

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday said that there are no lawmakers in the upper chamber who are linked with the 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that have the most flood control projects.

“I can only speak for this house, not the other house. And as far as I’m concerned as the majority leader of the Senate, I don’t see any senators involved in any of these 15 construction firms,” Villanueva said in a press conference.

When asked if there are members of the House of Representatives who are involved in such, the senator said, “Madali. Bibigyan ko na lang kayo ng mga papeles para mas magandang ‘yun ang magsalita kaysa ako.”

(That’s easy. I'll just give you the papers that can speak on my behalf.) 

Marcos earlier in the day disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors, calling it “another disturbing assessment.” The President also said that five of these 15 contracts have projects in almost all regions nationwide. 

Asked if these contractors have links to sitting government executives and officials, Marcos said the administration is still looking into it.

''We will still go through every single one. And we still have to see what really is – what really is credible and what needs to be acted upon,'' Marcos said.

Villanueva also said that it is up for the President to decide whether Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan should step aside amid the investigation into failed flooding projects. 

“If the President feels na he still enjoys his trust and confidence, then there’s nothing we can do about it. Ang sa akin lang, importante na maging impartial ang investigation at maging mataas ang kredibilidad ng pag-imbestiga dito na talagang walang sasantuhin,” the Senate majority leader said. 

(If the President feels that he still enjoys Bonoan’s trust and confidence, then there's nothing we can do about it. For me, it's important that the investigation be impartial and that the credibility of the investigation be high so that absolutely nothing will be done.) — RF, GMA Integrated News