Pres. Bongbong Marcos Speaks on Holding Corrupt Officials Accountable
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President claimed that the resignation of the government officials linked to the flood control mess is “not enough”.
Several members of the House of Representatives and the Senate were tagged in the multi-billion flood control mess. Both legislative chambers had a change of leadership amid the issue.
Senator Chiz Escudero was ousted and replaced by now-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto after he admitted to receiving a P30-million campaign donation from a contractor. Along the way as the probe continued, a former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Roberto Bernardo, accused him of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects.
In the House of Representatives, presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker. He was tagged in the issue following the joint affidavit of controversial contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya during a Senate flood probe.
Resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co was mentioned by several resource persons amid the ongoing Senate probe. However, Co was already in abroad when the accusations broke and he refused to return to the country. He even resigned from his position.
Previously, Pres. Bongbong Marcos asked the agencies to really ensure enough evidence to hold the people linked to the flood control anomalies accountable. Recently, the President stressed that a resignation of a government official is “not enough”.
During a podcast interview, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that accountability extends beyond resignation from a government post. He stressed that there is huge deal of damage caused on the Filipino people.
“That’s not sufficient. That’s not enough. There is a great deal of damage that has been caused, not only financial damage or economic damage but actual damage to people’s lives,” the Chief Executive said.
According to Pres. Bongbong Marcos, he can’t live with just being content by the resignation of the government officials who will be proven guilty of corruption so his administration will keep on pushing. During the podcast interview, when asked about the possibility of the investigation leading to the backyard of his allies, the President stressed that he brought the issue up not for his political advantage.
“I think we are already there. The reason I brought it up and made it part of the national discourse quite simply is because this could not go on. Why would I start such a thing if it is for political advantage?” he said.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, Marcos Jr. claimed that the alleged removal of the “standard procedures” by the Duterte administration supposedly contributed to the corruption issues.