Escudero warns arrest vs contractors who will skip Senate hearing anew

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero issued Tuesday a stern warning against contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects who will not attend again the next hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee. 

This, as Escudero confirmed to reporters that he has signed all the subpoenas requested by the panel last week, ordering the heads of identified construction companies to join the next hearing set on September 1. 

“Kinakailangan bigyang linaw nila itong bagay na ito. At kung hindi nila susundin ang subpoena ng Senado, ang susunod na doon ay arrest warrant na hindi ako mag-aatubiling pirmahan kung hindi sila pupunta at magpapakita dito sa patawag ng Senado,” the Senate President said. 

(They need to clarify this matter. And if they don't comply with the Senate's subpoena, they will face an arrest warrant that I will not hesitate to sign if they do not go here.) 

On August 19, Senate blue ribbon committee chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta approved the motion to issue subpoenas against private contractors that failed to attend the initial public hearing into the supposed anomalous flood control projects in the country. 

Back then, invitations were submitted to 15 contractors, but only 11 replied and seven were represented in the hearing.

These 15 contractors were the ones named by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., that were said to have bagged 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects. 

Escudero said that those behind the questionable projects need to be held accountable.

“Marapat at dapat lamang na tignan at suriin ‘yan dahil kung naglilipana ngayon, kaliwa’t kanan ang mga akusasyon, pero sa totoo lang, anumang pagnanakaw, anumang ghost project lalo na ay marapat at dapat naman talagang tignan, imbestigahan, at parusahan kung sino man ang nasa likod no’n,” he said.

(This really needs to be investigated because any corruption or ghost project should be looked at and whoever is behind these should be punished.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News