City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s offer to lead the investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects, saying there is no need to appoint a separate lead investigator.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already established mechanisms for the probe through the Regional Project Monitoring Committees (RPMC).
“Unang-una po, naibigay na po ng ating mahal na Pangulo ang mekanismo o sistema kung papaano ito maimbestigahan at nagbigay na nga rin po siya ng direktiba sa Regional Project Monitoring Committees,” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.
She added that any information Magalong possesses should be submitted directly to the President, especially if it is complete and backed by evidence.
“Kung anuman po ang mayroon siya, kung ito po ay kumpleto ay maaari niya po itong maisumite agad-agad sa ating Pangulo para iyong sinasabi po nilang 67 congressmen at mukhang sila ay identified na ni Mayor Magalong, hindi po ba mas magandang maibigay na niya ang report na ito sa ating Pangulo? At kung kinakailangan maidemanda o makasuhan nang may sapat na ebidensiya, agad-agad na rin po itong dapat gawin,” Castro said.
Earlier, Magalong urged Marcos to appoint a lead investigator for the alleged anomalies in flood control and infrastructure projects, claiming corruption in the sector is “widespread” and “highly organized.” He also alleged that some lawmakers receive 30–40 percent in kickbacks from these projects.
Castro added that if Magalong has evidence on other issues he has raised in interviews—such as irregularities in “rock netting” and “cat’s eyes” installations—he should file cases right away.
“Mas maganda rin po sana at nababanggit niya ang tungkol sa ‘rock netting’ at ‘cat’s eyes’ ay mas maganda rin po na kung mayroon po siyang alam dito ay maidemanda na agad dahil mukhang… marami na po siyang nalalaman,” she said.