By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday warned that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into anomalous flood-control projects could extend to lawmakers, saying that the scale of the irregularities uncovered so far is worse than the pork barrel scandal linked to Janet Lim-Napoles.
Lacson, who chairs the committee, said the panel would not hesitate to summon senators or representatives if the evidence warrants it, stressing that the inquiry would not protect anyone despite parliamentary courtesies.
He confirmed that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage is being secured showing a supposed emissary, identified only as “Mina,” delivering alleged obligations inside the Senate.
“Kung masagasaan, masasagasaan. Kung may pagtatakpan, bakit tayo mag-iimbestiga? (If anyone is hit, so be it. If there is a cover-up, then why are we even investigating?),” Lacson told reporters at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
He disclosed that his committee traced a PHP355-million insertion in the bicameral conference committee version of the national budget, which did not appear in the National Expenditure Program or the House bill.
Lacson also warned that the irregularities uncovered so far go beyond the magnitude of the Napoles case, with estimates suggesting almost PHP2 trillion in public funds may have been lost to anomalous projects over the past 15 years.
“Galit na ang kababayan, at na-inspire sa nangyari sa ibang bansa. Huwag sana mag-escalate sa ganoong punto (The people are already angry, inspired by what happened abroad. Hopefully, it does not escalate to that point),” he said.
Based on initial computation, Lacson said “more than 50 to 60 percent” of projects funded since 2011 may have been anomalous, describing the flood-control scam as among the most complex and far-reaching cases ever investigated.
The committee is set to continue hearings next week, with resource persons from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Budget and Management expected to clarify budget insertions and contract awards. (PNA)
