Ombudsman launches special panel of prosecutors to probe flood control projects

The Office of the Ombudsman has formed a special panel of prosecutors to investigate anomalous government flood control projects, it was learned on Monday.

The Ombudsman’s office, in its undated order, said such action is in accordance with Article 11, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution and the Ombudsman law mandating the Ombudsman “to investigate, motu proprio, any act or omission of any public official or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient.”

“A Special Panel of Investigators is hereby created to investigate the anomalous flood control projects of the government, both local and national, and the alleged corrupt practices involved therein, including the misappropriation of public funds,” the Ombudsman said.

The Special Panel of Investigators will be led by: 

• Assistant Ombudsman Caesar Asuncion of Field Investigation Office I as Chairperson; and
• Assistant Ombudsman Maria Olivia Elena Roxas of Field Investigation Office I as co-chairperson

The members, on the other hand, will include:

• Maria Jennifer  Lacea
• Marie Beth Almero
• Maria Karen Veloso
• Frederick Aguilar and
• Carmelo Gines, Jr., among others.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. launched a crackdown on "ghost" and substandard flood control projects last month.

The Chief Executive has already flagged the top 15 contractors who got 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects

In his State of the Nation Address last July, Marcos served notice to government personnel who steal public funds, such as those for flood control projects, that they will be dealt with under the law.

The Senate blue ribbon committee resumed on Monday its investigation into flood control projects, 

The House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) will also conduct a hearing on Tuesday to look into flood control projects.

'Tip of the iceberg'

In a separate statement, ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima reiterated her call to Marcos to create an independent commission to probe the alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“This is what we’ve been suggesting ever since these anomalies were exposed, in order to preclude any issue of conflict of interest, propriety and prudence. That is why we are against the Congress conducting this probe,” she said.

De Lima said the independent commission must be composed of impartial and principled probers: legal experts, auditors, and other technical specialists.

De Lima said the body should also be assisted by the National Prosecution Service, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Commission on Audit, Department of Public Works and Highways and other relevant government agencies, along with representatives from key industries and the civil society.  

“If the President is dilly dallying in mounting an independent and comprehensive probe, this gives a window for the corrupt officials, contractors and syndicates to evade accountability,” she said.

“The anomalies we are seeing might just be the tip of the iceberg. Clearly, we urgently need an independent body to dig into the crux of corruption in all government projects,” she added. —KG/BM, GMA Integrated News