Finance Sec. Ralph Recto Mentions Flood Control Mess during Senate Committee Hearing
RALPH RECTO – The Finance Secretary claimed that the flood control corruption has allegedly affected the growth of the Philippine economy.
The flood control issue in the Philippines left many Filipinos disappointed and calling for an end to corruption in the government. The scam allegedly involved multi-billions. There are allegations of supposed delivery of millions of cash kept in suitcases at least thrice a week. The issue sparked the “Trillion Peso March”.
Thousands of Filipinos joined the street protests last September 21 to call for an end to corruption. There were also calls for the government to hold the corrupt officials accountable. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership amid the issue.
In fact, in the Senate, aside from the change of leadership that ousted him, Senator Chiz Escudero is also accused of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects. The accusation was made by Roberto Bernardo, a former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Aside from Escudero, senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada are also accused of alleged flood control corruption through kickbacks. The accusation was made by dismissed DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez.
Presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez also resigned from being the House speaker after controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya tagged him in the issue. Aside from Romualdez, the contractors also made similar accusations against congressman Arjo Atayde, Roman Romulo, and Marcy Teodoro as well as resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co.
Zaldy Co resigned from being the representative of Ako Bicol Partylist which another representative called “a sacrifice” amid the accusation. He refused to return to the Philippines citing concerns over his safety. Recently, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, DOF Secretary Ralph Recto mentioned the supposed flood control corruption in the country.
Based on a post of News5 on social media, Finance Sec. Ralph Recto claimed that the flood control corruption allegedly affected the growth of the Philippine economy. He stressed that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) might have bigger collections, too.
“Kung hindi napunta sa corruption ‘yung parte ng budget na ‘yan, siguro ang ekonomiya natin would have been growing by 6 to 6.2% at mas malaki ang koleksyon ng BIR at BOC,” Sec. Ralph Recto said.
Recently, one of the accused in the flood control mess, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, attended the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI. Amid his attendance to the hearing, Malacañang was asked on the possibility of Cong. Martin Romualdez becoming a state witness in the flood control issue.