MANILA, Philippines – Hindi bababa sa 10% ng 318 miyembro ng House of Representatives ang iniimbestigahan para sa posibleng pananagutan at conflict of interest kaugnay ng flood control controversy, ayon kay Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla nitong Miyerkoles.
Ito ay matapos irekomenda ng DPWH at Independent Commission on Infrastructure ang pagsasampa ng kaso laban kay dating Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co at pitong iba pang kongresista na may kaugnayan sa mga kontratistang nanalo sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno.
“A lot of the House members will be affected here. At least 10% of Congress [House of Representatives] will be affected. About 10% are part of the investigation,” ani Remulla.
“It will still branch out. But it’s only low-hanging fruit. These eight today, there will be around 12 to 15 more [House members] who have conflict of interest,” dagdag niya.
Inamin ni Remulla, na dating kongresista rin, ang personal na epekto ng imbestigasyon: “This hurts because this entails a lot of personal sacrifice. Friendships are lost, and I am getting the ire of a lot of people. Even my children are affected. This is not easy.”
Sinabi niya na makikipag-ugnayan siya kay House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III upang hindi maantala ang trabaho ng lehislatura. Ibinunyag din ni Remulla na 77 indibidwal, kabilang ang ilang kongresista, ay inilagay sa Foreign Travel Restriction Order.
“It is something that we need in our legal system. Hindi puwedeng takas lang nang takas,” ani Remulla. Santi Celario
