Tingog's Acidre questions timing of Senate's planned resumption of flood control probe

A lawmaker on Saturday questioned the timing of the Senate's plan to resume its investigation into the flood control mess.

Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City, Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre raised concerns over the Senate's plan, saying it could divert public attention from Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.

Acidre made the remarks after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced on Friday that a subcommittee would continue the Senate's investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities in flood control projects on June 4.

"Ako pareho ako ng katanungan ng marami. Bakit kaya pinipilit nila na gawin ito sa panahong ito ngayon? Alam naman natin kung ano at saan nakatuon ang atensyon ng taumbayan," the lawmaker said.

(Like many others, I have the same question: Why are they pushing for this at this time? We all know what the public's attention is focused on right now.)

The lawmaker said issues surrounding the flood control projects had already been examined in previous congressional hearings and are now under review by the Office of the Ombudsman, which he described as "the proper forum."

"I'm not saying that we should escape accountability, but we should allow the proper forum to take over the process of exacting accountability," Acidre said.

Acidre said the timing raises legitimate questions, as the Senate is expected to divide its attention between the flood control probe and Duterte's impeachment trial.

"Kung hindi mo naman mapipigilan 'yung impeachment trial from proceeding, baka iniisip nila pwedeng, sige, guluhin na lang natin," Acidre said.

(If they can no longer prevent the impeachment trial from proceeding, they may be thinking that the next best thing to do is to create distractions.)

GMA News Online sought Cayetano's reaction to Acidre's remarks, but no response had been received as of posting time. — VBL, GMA News