By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – Leaders of the House of Representatives on Thursday supported the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for a lifestyle check on government officials, beginning with those of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Ako, I’m in favor of that. Kung nais ng Pangulong simulan sa DPWH, well and good. Pero kinakailangan lahat… lahat ‘yan, pati Judiciary, lahat na. Talagang magkaroon ng (I’m in favor of that. If the President wants to start with the DPWH, well and good. But it needs to be all, including the Judiciary. There should be a) lifestyle check. I’m in favor of what the President has said,” Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, said in a news conference.
Public Accounts Committee chair Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list said he believes there would be no problem if the lifestyle check would cover members of Congress and the judiciary.
“I think the call of course of the President is on all, but I’m also quite sure that he also wants to respect the co-equality of the branches of government. I think wala naman hong problema na magkaroon din po ng lifestyle checks sa mga miyembro po ng Kongreso, miyembro po kahit ng hudikatura (I think there will be no problem for members of Congress, and even the Judiciary, to have a lifestyle check),” Ridon said.
“Kasi syempre kailangan naman po talagang (There is a need for it to be) all-encompassing and more importantly, there are expectations on all government officials, on all government employees, that we should be able to lead and live modest lives.”
Ridon said it is very important for the lifestyle to just target the DPWH, but “on each and every agency, and on each and every political branch of government.”
The Palace earlier confirmed that President Marcos ordered the lifestyle checks following his inspection of 11 flood-control projects in Marikina, Iloilo, Bulacan, and Benguet.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the checks will begin with DPWH officials, but will eventually cover the entire executive branch.
She said the President also directed a continuing audit of DPWH records.
The Palace said that as of Wednesday morning, 9,020 reports on questionable flood-control projects have been submitted via the Sumbong sa Pangulo platform, as it renewed its call for citizens to stay vigilant and to report anomalies in government projects in their areas. (PNA)
