Bersamin: Gov’t ‘very stable’ despite corruption allegations

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday assured that the Philippine government remains “very stable” despite the supposed anomalies in flood control projects allegedly involving public officials. 

In an ambush interview at the Senate, Bersamin said that he does not see any threats in the government even as names of several lawmakers were recently floated in the hearings into the flood control issue. 

“Very, very stable because alam mo ‘yan, internal dynamics lang ‘yan, normal sa atin ‘yan (you know, that’s only internal dynamics and that’s normal). There were eras or periods in our history that there were more supposedly perceived to be destabilizing," the Bersamin told reporters. 

"I don't see any threats... I don't see any obstacles yet, because these are still resource persons speaking. So I will leave the dynamics diyan sa dalawang (on that to the two) houses of Congress because that is outside of our purview,” he added. 

Regardless, Bersamin admitted that he is “concerned” about the revelations regarding the ghost flood control projects. 

“You don't need to ask me that kasi, like any other citizen, I am also concerned. I will just leave it first to the bodies that are doing the investigation,” he explained. 

Asked if President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is also alarmed that there were senators and congressmen allegedly involved in the controversy that’s why he wants an independent commission established, Bersamind said, “Hindi naman (no). This is just a natural consequence of what he wanted to happen.”

Marcos previously said the powers and composition of the independent commission would soon be disclosed. He added there was a suggestion that the body be given contempt powers, aside from subpoena powers.

The President also said that there will be no politicians in the independent commission that will investigate anomalies in flood control projects.

Bersamin, meanwhile, said that the target for the establishment of the commission is “as soon as possible.”

“Our independent commission, if it ever comes out, may be about fact-finding lang (only). Now, we all want all sectors of the Philippine society to contribute to the effort to find facts about these issues on flood control anomalies,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News