Entrepreneur, partner deny ties to flood control mess

Entrepreneur Jonathan Payawal So on Saturday said that he and his business partner, Carlito Macadangdang, had no involvement in the alleged flood control scandal and were ready to face the accusations against them.

In a statement posted on social media, So said the allegations were baseless and did not reflect their business or advocacy.

“Let us be clear: we have no involvement in any so-called ‘ghost’ flood control claims. These accusations do not reflect our business, our mission, or the lives we have changed together,” he said.

“While we respect the authorities and the process, we also believe every Filipino deserves fairness, due process, and the chance to be heard,” he added.

Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is conducting a probe into So and Macadangdang over their alleged roles in the flood control controversy, following claims linking them to Topnotch Catalyst Builders, one of the contractors facing complaints over the project.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said that while So did not appear to be a contractor, he was allegedly a project proponent.

So said it was “painful” to see their names linked to the controversy after 20 years of what he described as “honest work.”

“You know how this started—small, with sacrifice, long days, and faith. What we have today was not handed to us. It was earned, step by step, through real effort and real service,” he said.

So added that he believed the truth would prevail and that he and his partner were willing to answer the allegations in the proper forum.

“We will face this properly. We will answer in the right forum. And we are confident the truth will stand,” he said.—MCG, GMA Integrated News