Senator Panfilo Lacson lamented the deep-rooted corruption in the government’s infrastructure program, saying it’s now easier to ask “who is not guilty” than “who is.”
Lacson made the remark after reviewing “classified” Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) documents that revealed widespread irregularities in flood control and other projects.
He cited Secretary Vince Dizon’s report showing that 421 out of 8,000 inspected flood control projects were ghost projects.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian exposed that over P10 billion worth of farm-to-market roads in the 2023 and 2024 budgets were grossly overpriced, with one project costing 23 times higher than standard DPWH rates.
In previous privilege speeches, Lacson detailed how some DPWH officials allegedly pocketed funds and even gambled taxpayers’ money in casinos. Evidence gathered from Senate Blue Ribbon hearings has been turned over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Department of Justice for prosecution.
He stressed that only through prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment can corruption truly be curbed, also vowing to continue the fight even after stepping down as Blue Ribbon Committee chair.IMT
