House joint panel requires members to disclose contractor links

The House Joint Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability adopted a motion mandating House members to disclose their links to contractors of flood control projects, if there are any.

The House joint panels unanimously adopted the motion put forward by Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno which aims to preserve the integrity of its probe on the alleged substandard and ghost flood control initiatives.

"I believe we need to assure the public that this investigation will not be a whitewash and that no members of the three committees conducting this investigation have a conflict of interest," Diokno said.

"I therefore move, Mr. Chair, that, before we proceed any further with this joint hearing, all the members of the committees on public accounts, public works and highways, and good government and public accountability make a full disclosure of their financial, business or pecuniary interest that may be directly or indirectly affected by any investigation into the government’s past or present flood control projects. So move, Mr. Chair," Diokno, a human rights lawyer, added.

Diokno’s move was backed by Las Piñas Rep. Mark Santos, saying it was no prejudgment but ensuring that the House will act accordingly given its oversight powers.

“This is not to cast doubt on anyone's integrity, but rather protect impartiality of the committee and avoid perception of bias. Our duty is to ensure that the decisions are made solely on the merits of the issues before us, free from any conflict of interest,” Santos added.

House public accounts panel chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, for his part, said that the House members will make the needed disclosure, if there is any, in a written declaration that there is no conflict of interest of any member relating to any subject of the House flood control inquiry, which will be submitted to your respective committees within five working days.

There were only three of the 15 contractors which got the lion’s share of over P500 billion worth of flood control projects as named by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who showed up during the House's Tuesday probe.

Likewise, former Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also showed up before the House probe.

Bonoan recently resigned from his Cabinet post amid massive flooding in the Metro and the flood control project mess, and the President said he accepted Bonoan’s resignation due to “command responsibility.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News