Ex-AFP, PNP generals, groups call for accountability for flood control scandal

Some former generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, members of the academe, civil society, and business groups have joined call for accountability for the anomalous flood control projects.

The Manila Business Club on September 5 released a joint statement signed by different groups and individuals including the following:

• General Renato S De Villa, AFP (RET)
• Major Rene C Valencia, PA (RET) 
• Admiral Danilo Abinoja, PCG (RET)
• Colonel Plaridel  M Abaya, PC (Ret) 
• Lieutenant General Edilberto P Adan, AFP (RET) 
• Colonel Guillermo G Cunanan, PAF (RET) 
• PLTC Alejandro T Flores, PC (RET) 
• General Victor Ibrado, AFP (RET)  (ANI)
• Vice Admiral Emilio C Marayag, AFP (RET) 
• Brigadier General Manuel Mariano, AFP (RET)
• Vice Admiral Mateo M Mayuga, AFP (RET) 
• Brigadier General Eliseo M Rio JR, AFP (RET) 
• Major General Melchor P Rosales, AFP (RET) 
• Colonel Mariano R Santiago, PC (RET) 
• General Recaredo A Sarmiento II, PNP (RET) 
• Lieutenant General Raul S Urgello  PA (Ret) 
• General Alexander B Yano, AFP (RET) 
• Brigadier General Rodrigo T Diapana, AFP (RET)
• Rear Admiral Rommel Jason L Galang, PN (RET)
• Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan
• Archbishop Socrates B Villegas
• Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC
• Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC
• Fr Roberto C. Yap SJ
• Ramon del Rosario, Jr.
• Rogelio “Babes” Singson
• Former Senator Franklin M. Drilon
• Mayor Benjie Magalong, Baguio City
• De La Salle Brothers Philippines
• De La Salle Philippines
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
• Makati Business Club (MBC)
• MUP (Military & Uniformed Personnel) 4 United PH
• Ateneo de Manila University
• Ateneo de Naga University
• Ateneo de Davao University
• Ateneo de Zamboanga University
• Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
• Xavier School San Juan
• Xavier School Nuvali 
• Loyola College Culion
• PHINMA Education
• PHINMA Araullo University
• PHINMA Cagayan De Oro College
• PHINMA University of Pangasinan
• PHINMA University of Iloilo
• Southwestern University PHINMA
• PHINMA Saint Jude College Manila
• PHINMA Saint Jude College Quezon City 
• PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna
• PHINMA Union College of Laguna
• PHINMA Saint Jude College Dasmariñas 

In the joint statement, many groups and individuals expressed outrage at government officials, “politicontractors”, private sector parties, as well as their family and relative “who unabashedly flaunt their lavish lifestyles as they steal our hard-earned taxpayer money.”

“We have had enough. We need to escape this vicious cycle. We must reject the system of corruption that kills our fellow Filipinos and erodes our confidence in government,” the statement read. 

“We demand that this corrupt system be replaced with a system of transparency, accountability, and people’s participation that makes it harder to be bad and easier to be good,” it added.

Earlier, 30 of the country’s most influential business groups also signed for the call to hold individuals involved in the anomalies in flood control projects accountable.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called for an investigation into anomalous flood control projects as many parts of the country have been submerged amid heavy rains in the past months.

Several government agencies, as well as the Senate and the House of Representatives, have launched their respective investigations.

Some flood control projects were found to be ghost projects.—AOL, GMA Integrated News