While acknowledging the call of business groups to address the massive corruption scandal involving flood control and infrastructure projects, Malacañang urged them to trust the investigations being undertaken by different government agencies to hold all those involved accountable.
In a briefing on Monday, Palace press officer Claire Castro cited the positive development in the works of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), despite criticisms from different stakeholders on the slow pace and lack of transparency of the executive-created body.
‘Much has already been done, and many more are still under investigation by different government bodies,’ she said.
‘The President and the administration understand the concerns of businessmen, which is why investigations continue and actions are being expedited to ensure that those who must be held accountable will face the consequences,’ Castro added.
Castro cited the move of the ICI, with the help of other government agencies, to seek the forfeiture of about P5-billion worth of cash and other assets covered by freeze orders issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) upon the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Upon request of the ICI, the DOJ also issued immigration lookout bulletin order against dozens of those found connected to the flood control controversy.
It also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend the filing of graft charges against 18 individuals, including resigned lawmaker Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, over the substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.
The ICI also committed that at least 15 cases may be filed before the Ombudsman by next month in relation to the flood control mess.
It might take further for the ombudsman to formally transmit a criminal charge to the Sandiganbayan, and then for the antigraft court to possibly issue warrants of arrest against the accused.
‘Our only request to those obstructionists who keep making up stories to undermine the integrity of the ICI is to tone it down – or better yet, stop – because it does not help the economy,’ Castro said.
The Malacañang statement came a day after the country’s biggest business organizations issued a joint resolution urgently calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately address the ‘historic, massive and unprecedented corruption scandal crippling flood control and infrastructure projects.’
Signed by 34 business groups and associations, the appeal called the corruption controversy as a ‘crisis that has eroded public trust and now threatens our national security.’
‘This is more than financial loss – it is a fatal breach of public trust that leaves our people vulnerable and outraged,’ they warned.
The groups urged Marcos to ‘immediately and transparently’ adopt proposed measures to confront the crisis, primarily by empowering the ICI with ‘full legal authority and independence’ to enable it to fulfill its mandate to conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation of the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects ‘free from political influence.’