‘The President should realize that lumping flood control projects with other questionable and numerous infrastructure projects within the past 10 years in the ICI’s proceedings will delay the enforcement of criminal accountability and penalties for errant public officials and big-time contractors…’
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which was created by President Bongbong Marcos in the face of the growing public uproar over billions of pesos lost to public works scams pocketed by DPWH officials and congressmen, should deal first with ghost, unfinished and neglected flood control projects. Executive Order No. 94 states that the investigation will “prioritize” flood control and other infrastructure projects “within the last 10 years.” Many other complaints or cases on other anomalous infrastructure projects can follow after the ICI has completed what many expect to be an intensive probe before it submits its final report to the President for the arrest and prosecution of those criminally and administratively liable.
The President should realize that lumping flood control projects with other questionable and numerous infrastructure projects within the past 10 years in the ICI’s proceedings will delay the enforcement of criminal accountability and penalties for errant public officials and big-time contractors involved in stealing billions of pesos that have led to massive and unabated flooding in most parts of the country. Certainly, the prolonged proceedings will offer ample time and opportunities for the “culprits” to flee the country, among other extra-legal and criminal measures to subvert or outmaneuver the ICI probe using their abundant wealth and power.
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Political analyst Ronaldo Llamas claimed that there was an attempt to oust Congressman Martin Romualdez as House Speaker, but the needed number for a house coup was not reached. Llamas also says his very reliable sources at the House of Representatives have confirmed that the ouster move has not fizzled out and is still active in generating the required votes against Romualdez.
As in the removal of then-Senate President Miguel Zubiri, Malacanang’s hand in the ouster of Chiz Escudero could not be dismissed as speculation. Of course, no one in Malacanang would be in their right mind to confirm it. Llamas said denial is always the easiest recourse for Malacanang officials to evade or bury any sensitive issue.
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As social media sizzled with incessant brickbats on Escudero’s blatant violation of the Omnibus Election Code by receiving a P30-million campaign donation from a public works contractor, it seemed inevitable that he had to go. Relinquishing the Senate presidency certainly will not diminish his criminal and administrative accountability. But he could have saved face somehow if he had resigned before the ouster move of the minority senators erupted. A blow to his name, leadership and reputation.
Escudero can still strive to regain the trust and respect of the public by resigning as senator, as Zubiri did some years back when he was suspected of electoral fraud in winning over Sen. Koko Pimentel with a small margin for the 12th slot in the then Senate race. Zubiri was reelected some six years later, landing in the top five and ultimately becoming Senate President.
Unlike Zubiri, who unleashed a tirade against his political detractors then, Escudero was quite gracious and pleasant when he knew that it was over for him, and even agreed to administer the oath to Sen. Tito Sotto as the new Senate President.
Senate insiders say that it took the minority two weeks to obtain the needed votes for the adoption of the resolution to force Escudero to step down as Senate president. He was reportedly trying to block the ouster petition with the support of some members of the majority.
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Head pastor Manny Manansala of Live in Victory Ministries (LIV) at Ortigas center said that protest rallies or even a revolution will not lead to real change for better and upright governance. Last Sunday in the LIV center at the AIC building on Emerald Ave., he stressed that huge political and social upheavals such as EDSA 1 and 2 failed to accomplish the leaders’ avowed objectives for genuine renewal in our society, which could only come from actual moral and spiritual transformation of families, above all. The smallest unit in national society, which is the family, should be playing a vital role, but it is not.
Pastor Manansala also stressed that parents, especially the fathers, should be the first to constantly guide and influence their children, instead of allowing them to be exposed to their peers and others providing worldly, decadent and evil examples to them.
Widespread corruption in government and the private sector seemed to stem from a severe lack of ethics and moral values that should have been planted during the formative and younger years of public officials and businessmen. He lamented that the youth are being “victimized” by the social environment, the media and by liberally misguided teachers and professors. He warned the youth that “what you consume is consuming you; and “what entertains you is educating you.”
Pastor Manansala also cited the following Biblical verse, which should wake us up to do our part in bringing genuine change in the face of what may yet be a mounting political and social chaos in our country. Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
