Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang wants a thorough investigation on questioned flood control projects in Taguig City with no cover-up, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Monday, Sept. 28.
Castro said Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s earlier “zero” remark did not mean there were no irregularities in Taguig.
“Hindi po niya sinasabi na walang anomalya sa Taguig. Ang sinasabi po niya, iyong 10 na nakumpirmang ghost projects, wala doon ang Taguig,” Castro said.
[Translation: He is not saying that there are no anomalies in Taguig. What he is saying is that among the 10 confirmed ghost projects, none of them are in Taguig.]
Dizon earlier told senators that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had found no ghost projects in Taguig.
“Wala po. Sa aming imbestigasyon, wala po,” Dizon said.
[Translation: “None, based on our investigation.”]
The statement drew questions from Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who cited DPWH documents showing possible irregularities in Taguig projects.
One flagged project had geotagged photographs with coordinates pointing to Leyte instead of Taguig, he said.
Dizon later clarified that the investigation into the Taguig projects is still ongoing.
“Ang investigation sa Taguig kakaumpisa pa lang at ongoing pa ’yan,” Dizon said.
[Translation: The investigation in Taguig has only just begun and is still ongoing.]
Dizon said an initial report had identified irregularities that still need further validation. He said he forwarded the report to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Nagsubmit ng initial report sa akin at ’yan ay pinasubmit ko sa ombudsman. Nakalagay sa report merong mga nakitang mga irregularities na kailangan i-subject pa for further validation,” Dizon said.
[Translation: An initial report was submitted to me and I forwarded it to the ombudsman. The report indicated that there were irregularities that still need to undergo further validation.]
Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the investigation to proceed without protecting anyone.
“Walang kinakanlong, walang itinatago,” Castro said.
[Translation: No one is protected, nothing is hidden.]
The Palace said the questioned Taguig projects should not be considered cleared simply because they were not among the 10 items already conclusively identified by DPWH as ghost projects.
