Marcos orders lifestyle checks amid flood control projects probe

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has ordered lifestyle checks on all officials amid the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said this in a briefing on Wednesday.

''Ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang pagkakaroon ng lifestyle check sa lahat ng mga opisyal sa gitna ng imbestigasyon patungkol sa maanomalyang flood control projects,'' Castro said.

(President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered lifestyle checks among all officials amid the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.)

''Kasabay nito, binigyang-diin ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang tuluy-tuloy na pag-check sa mga records ng DPWH kaugnay sa mga maanomalyang proyekto,'' she added. 

(In relation to this, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the [need for] continuous checking of DPWH records as regards the anomalous projects.)

Castro said the lifestyle checks would start among the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

''Lahat ng may involved patungkol muna sa flood control projects na maanomalya,'' Castro said.

(All those involved in the anomalous flood control projects.)

Asked who will lead the lifestyle checks, Castro said this would depend on the agencies handling the offices. She mentioned that the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Internal Revenue could also conduct lifestyle checks. 

''Sa bawat ahensiya, mayroon naman po na puwedeng magkaroon ng lifestyle check. Ang Ombudsman puwedeng mag-initiate, ang BIR puwedeng mag-inspect, magkaroon ng lifestyle check, sa bawat ahensiya na may sakop sa kaniya; DPWH puwede rin po. So iyon po, kung sino po iyong may ahensiya na dapat magkaroon ng pag-lifestyle check, gawin po nila,'' she said.

(In every agency, someone can actually conduct a lifestyle check. The Ombudsman can initiate, the BIR can inspect, they can have a lifestyle check, in every agency covering them, the DPWH can check too. So, those were the agencies that can conduct a lifestyle check.) 

She gave the assurance that the lifestyle checks would be independent and not partisan.

The President had said that he is getting ''very angry'' with the ghost flood projects in Bulacan province. He said cases would surely be filed against those involved in corrupt practices in these projects. 

Marcos said this as he inspected the failed reinforced concrete riverwall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag last week. 

Marcos earlier disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors. 

Meanwhile, asked for reaction to the call of Tindig Kalikasan to include provincial officials of Bulacan in the investigation of failed flood control projects, Castro ensured that all would be included in the probe.

''Lahat po ng kasabwat, ayon naman po sa Pangulong Marcos Jr., lahat ng kasabwat, lahat ng may kinalaman at lahat ng nakipag-conspire sa ganitong klaseng maanomalyang flood control projects, lahat po iyan ay kasama sa pag-iimbestiga,'' she said. 

(All those involved, according to President Marcos Jr., will be included.) 

The President has urged the public to take part in reporting those involved in faulty flood control projects. 

His administration launched sumbongsapangulo.ph, a website designed to provide the public with access to information on flood control projects across the country. This will also allow them to report any irregularities on the said projects. 

As of August 27, at least 9,020 reports concerning flood control projects have been received by the Office of the President through the website, according to Castro. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News