Metro Manila, Philippines – Solving the flood control scandal may extend beyond the Marcos administration, a city mayor known for exposing alleged irregularities in the government’s infrastructure projects said.
At the sidelines of a media forum on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said it may take time to wipe out corruption from anomalous projects, based on experience.The retired police officer pertained to the corruption scandal that involved projects at the National Irrigation Administration, which he investigated. “Eto pa lang flood control matindi na ‘yan…iba pa anomalies sa rock netting, road opening, asphalt overlay, cats eye, halos lahat na lang pinagkakakitaan na lang ata,” said Magalong.[Translation: This flood control alone is already intense… then there are still anomalies in the rock netting, road opening, asphalt overlay, cat’s eye – it seems like almost everything has just become a money-making scheme.]
Highly organized crime
Magalong described the flood control mess as a “highly organized crime” and a connivance between government officials, politicians, and private contractors.He named Ako Bicol party-list representative and former House appropriations chairman Zaldy Co as the “mastermind” of the “syndicate.”Magalong said someone higher than Co may be involved. He refused to respond when asked if he pertained to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin.
Controversial contractor Curlee Discaya earlier told the Senate blue ribbon panel a number of lawmakers and public works officials were soliciting money in exchange for government projects – with some allegedly claiming part of it was intended for Co and Romualdez. Discaya, however, said in a House hearing that he had no direct transactions with the two House members.
In a statement on Wednesday, Co denied Magalong’s accusations.“I was surprised to hear Mayor Benjamin Magalong mention my name to the media in connection with the flood control projects without saying what exactly I did. Again, I strongly deny any wrong-doing with respect to his vague claim,” he said.“It is my understanding that an independent body, the members of whom could possibly include Mayor Magalong, will be constituted to investigate the flood control projects,” Co added.Magalong on Wednesday denied reports that he is part of the independent commission tasked to probe questionable flood control deals, saying he may no longer be qualified after the Palace ruled out the involvement of politicians in the panel.
