No hand in House probe on Manila Bay dolomite beach - Malacañang

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang said it will not interfere in the plan of the House of Representatives to investigate the impact of the Manila Bay dolomite beach project on Metro Manila flooding as the inquiry is a prerogative of lawmakers.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro brushed aside claims of pro-Duterte supporters, including Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that the plan is an attempt at politically targeting the previous administration.

“Kung anuman po ang magiging trabaho at gagawing mga hakbang ng House of Representatives sa pag-iimbestiga dito sa dolomite beach ay iyan naman ay kanilang trabaho at hindi po hahadlang sa anumang hakbang ang pangulo patungkol diyan,” she added.

[Translation: Whatever the House of Representatives decides to do in terms of investigating the dolomite beach, that is its mandate and the president will not be a hindrance.]

The probe set for Nov. 17 aims to determine whether the artificial beach contributes to severe flooding in the capital, and examine as well if the project is aligned with Manila Bay rehabilitation plans.

The P400-million “beach nourishment project” was implemented under the Duterte administration.

Castro rejected claims that looking into a previous administration’s program automatically equates to political targeting.

“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na kapag po iniimbestigahan ang mga proyekto ng nakaraang administrasyon, ito’y pamumulitika lamang,” she said.

[Translation: It does not mean that when projects of past administrations are investigated, it is already political.]

Castro dismissed accusations of some pro-Duterte supporters online that the Palace is behind efforts to pin blame on the former administration.

“Bago sila magsalita niyan, patunayan muna nila na ang Pangulo ang behind dito sa dolomite beach probe,” she said.

[Translation: Before they say that, they should first prove that the President is behind this dolomite beach probe.]

Rep. Duterte said in a statement posted on Facebook the probe is an attempt to divert attention from other issues and corruption controversies.

“Ang bilis ninyong maghanap ng ‘mananagot’ ngayon, pero noong tunay na ninakawan ang bayan tahimik kayong lahat,” Duterte said.

[Translation: You are quick to look for someone to blame now, but when the country was truly robbed you were all silent.]

“Kung tutuusin, mas dapat itanong - may nanagot na ba sa bilyones na nawala…? Wala, ‘di ba?” he added.

[Translation: The real question is - has anyone been held accountable for the billions that went missing? None, right?]

Officials from a number of concerned agencies and the Manila City government are expected to attend the House hearing, which will look into drainage outfalls in Ermita-Malate and whether engineering specifications of the beach contributed to flooding during heavy rainfall.