Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has expressed support for the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigation into 26 members of the House of Representatives, dubbed “congtractors,” for their alleged involvement in government-funded construction projects.
The probe seeks to determine whether these lawmakers used their positions to secure public works contracts for companies they own or control.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed Thursday that investigative teams are reviewing Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and other evidence related to the 26 individuals.
“The first 26, we have already assigned them to the investigative teams to do lifestyle checks as well as further investigation. These are what we call ‘cong-tractors,’” Clavano said during a press briefing.
Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, described the move as a “good development,” stressing that the practice constitutes a clear conflict of interest.
“Imagine, you insert projects in the budget for projects where you are the contractor. If the Ombudsman has names and proof, it should investigate them because that is a clear conflict of interest,” Lacson said in a radio interview Friday.
The senator also raised concerns about “ghost” or nonexistent infrastructure projects, citing his previous privilege speeches on alleged corruption in Bulacan, where billions of pesos were allocated for flood control projects that did not exist.
He further referenced the recent arrest of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co in Prague, Czech Republic, who faces charges related to a project in Oriental Mindoro.
“Imagine, just one congressman poured in ₱35 billion in Bulacan. Yet the charge Co now faces is in relation to a project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. We’re not yet talking about Bulacan,” Lacson noted.
The Ombudsman’s lifestyle checks mark the initial phase of the investigation, aimed at uncovering potential graft and corruption linked to legislative involvement in public works projects.