By ILOILO CITY – Multi-sectoral groups gathered in Plazoleta Gay on Tuesday, September 9, protesting the ongoing corruption scandals involving flood control projects in the country.
This comes after the explosive testimony given by contractors Pacifico II and Sarah Discaya during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on September 8. The two contractors implicated several high-ranking officials in allegedly accepting kickbacks from government-backed projects.
Among the politicians named were Uswag Ilonggo Party-list representative James “Jojo” Ang and former Aklan second district representative Teodorico “Nonong” Haresco, who were accused of being involved in the corrupt practices surrounding the multi-million peso flood control projects. The protest also coincided with the House committee’s hearing on the issue, raising the stakes in an already heated debate about government transparency and accountability.
Elmer Forro, Secretary-General of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Panay, condemned the widespread corruption that continues to government projects.
Forro emphasized that the ordinary masses continue to suffer in the wake of annual floods, economic hardships, and lack of basic social services and wage inadequacy, while politicians and their families enjoy opulent lifestyles.
“Sobra na ang kinawatay, sa pihak sang pagwasak nila sang palangabuhian sang ordinaryo nga pumuluyo kag kawawad-on sang serbisyo publiko, padayon man ang kinawatay,” Forro said.
(The stealing has gone too far. Even as they destroy the livelihoods of ordinary people and take away public services, the corruption still continues)
“We demand accountability and transparency in these projects. We will not let corruption be swept under the rug, especially when the lives of thousands are at stake.” Forro added.
“Samtang padayon naga suffer ang pamatan-on kag pumuluyo sa kakulangan sa badget sang edukasyon, health, kag iban pa nga serbisyo sosyal, samtang naga lubog sa baha ang kada tuig nalang, ang mga politiko kag mga kontraktor nga ni, ara sa babaw sang ila mga mansyon naga enjoy sang kwarta sang pumuluyo,” Matthew Gonzaga of National Uniom of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)- Panay said.
(While the youth and the public are suffering because there is not enough funding for education, health, and other public services, and floods keep happening every year, these politicians and contractors stay in their mansions, while enjoying the people’s hard-earned money and taxes)
The groups further decried the deep-rooted corruption not just among contractors, but also within the government system itself, implicating the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in allowing such practices to persist.
“Ang pag-raise sang issue sang flood control corruption indi lang dapat itarget sa mga private individuals o contractors, kundi pati na ang mga kongresista kag mga opisyales sa nasyonal nga gobyerno, lakip na si Marcos Jr.,” Forro added.
(The issue of corruption in flood control projects should not only target private individuals or contractors, but also congressmen and officials in the national government.)/PT
