Politicians involved in anomalous flood control projects to be named — Erwin, Jinggoy

Senators Erwin Tulfo and Jinggoy Estrada said Wednesday that politicians who are linked to anomalous flood control projects will be identified in the hearings of the powerful Senate blue ribbon committee. 

Tulfo, vice chairperson of the panel, said that not only members of the House of Representatives will be named in the next hearings to come, but also local government officials who have had a hand in suspicious flood control projects. 

“Yung mga contractor na ‘yan, connected ‘yan sa mga pulitiko na ‘yan. Hindi lang congressman dito, mayroon ding mga governor diyan, may mga mayor din na sasabit diyan na sila mismo ang tumitira ng flood control pagbaba ng pondo sa kanilang lalawigan, sa kanilang probinsya. Sila na ang tumitira,” Tulfo said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(These contractors are connected to politicians. It's not just congressmen, but also governors and mayors who are behind the flood control projects who will be tagged.) 

“‘Yung iba naman na mga mayor, mga contractor. Sila na rin ang gumagawa ng mga flood control. At kahit hindi sa bayan nila, kahit sa ibang bayan, pupunta ang kanyang kumpanya para gawin ang flood control na ‘yan,” he added. 

(Some mayors are the contractors themselves. They also do flood control as a business. They will work on something not just in their own towns, but in other towns as well.) 

Tulfo said that private contractors will be pressed in order for them to divulge who are the politicians they are working with. If they fail to cooperate with the blue ribbon committee, the senator warned that these contractors may be cited in contempt. 

During the committee’s initial public hearing on Tuesday, chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta approved a motion for the issuance of subpoenas against private contractors that were absent. 

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan also revealed in the hearing that there may be "ghost" flood control projects worth P5.9 billion that mar some areas in Bulacan.

Parliamentary courtesy

Estrada, meanwhile, explained that the Senate will not urge fellow lawmakers—particularly those from the lower chamber—to attend the hearings of the blue ribbon committee, but they may voluntarily do so if they want. 

“Pwede naman sabihin ng contractor kung sino ‘yung mga binibigyan nilang pulitiko,” the Senate President Pro Tempore said in a separate dzBB interview.

(The contractor can identify the politicians they are giving money to.) 

“Siguro kung merong maglalakas loob na pangalanan ‘yung mambabatas na ‘yun, siguro sasagutin nila in a proper forum,” he added. 

(If someone dares to name lawmakers, maybe these politicians can answer in a proper forum.) 

Estrada also affirmed that the private contractors themselves will be pressed to name names during the succeeding hearings. 

Asked if he will be among the senators who will pose the question regarding the other politicians involved, Estrada said, “Pwede (possible)." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News