Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on PH Government’s Projects, National Budget Issue in the Country
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President asserted that no one listened to her claims over the national budget and took swipe at Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Currently, both the Senate and the House of Representatives are investigating the flood control mess in the Philippines. Pres. Bongbong Marcos also ordered the creation of an independent body that will probe the infrastructure projects of the government amid the issue.
The said independent body, the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, is armed with broad powers including the power to move for the seizure of assets linked to irregularities as well as the issuance of subpoena. It is composed of three (3) people.
Recently, presidential cousin and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker so the ICI can freely and fully exercise their mandate to investigate the flood control issue. He is one of the government officials accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the government flood control deals.
Aside from Romualdez, controversial contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya also accused Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, Quezon City Cong. Arjo Atayde, Marikina Cong. Marcy Teodoro, and Pasig Cong. Roman Romulo of also allegedly getting flood control projects kickback. The Discayas claimed that they allegedly had no choice but to agree to the supposed “system”.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co are the ones that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte previously accused of allegedly controlling the national budget. Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines now, the Vice President recalled her previous remarks which she asserted no one listened.
“Matagal na ako nagsasabi, ‘Yung budget, yung budget’. Walang nakikinig sa akin. Kailangan pang lumubog sa baha ‘yung mga kababayan natin bago merong nag-react na BBM ang pangalan,” Duterte said during a press con.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also claimed that the Philippine economy is allegedly not doing well. Her statement is contrary to the claim of Pres. Bongbong Marcos that the economy of the country is great.
“Even then, hindi pa nagtutugma ang kanyang reaction sa dapat niyang gawin. Kaya, really, truly, our economy is not in the very best weather. Ang ating political stability is down to -2, -3, even -10 siguro,” she said.
During the press con, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also claimed that the Philippine government has no “big ticket projects”. According to her, the small ones like the construction of a 10-kilometer road is not the ones wanted from the government.
“Wala kang nakikita sa gobyerno ngayon na ano big ticket projects. Hindi ‘yung mga maliliit ha na sinasabi mong 10 kilometers na daan, hindi ‘yan ang gusto nating makita sa ating pamahalaan,” Duterte expressed.
Amid the resignation of Romualdez from being the House Speaker, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co has yet to return to the Philippines. He was already in the United States for a reported medical treatment when the issue broke out. According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Marcos Jr. should not allow congressmen to just go abroad or resign to “evade accountability”.