House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos has thrown his support behind calls for an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, saying Congress should not lead an inquiry involving its own members.
“Why would a body investigate itself? I think it would be wise and prudent for us to wait as to what the executive has to say, and what their actions are,” Marcos told reporters on Wednesday. He noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already released names and figures tied to the projects, and that the executive branch should take the lead in identifying where anomalies lie.
Still, Marcos said the House can help in other ways, such as looking into waste management in Metro Manila — a key factor in flooding — without solely focusing on corruption allegations.
Senior Deputy Speaker David Suarez shared the same stance, stressing that a third-party review would avoid the perception of lawmakers investigating themselves. He also challenged those with evidence of alleged collusion between legislators and contractors to present their proof.
The controversy gained momentum after President Marcos criticized officials and contractors accused of taking kickbacks from flood control funds. Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier warned that nearly half of the almost P2 trillion allotted for flood control since 2011 could have been lost, citing the need for a thorough review.
Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon, who chairs the House public accounts committee, said three committees will examine the president’s list of 15 contractors who won more than 2,000 of the 10,000 flood control contracts. The inquiry will determine whether these involved completed, delayed, substandard, or even non-existent projects.
