Aquino vows to keep flood control probe alive

Senator Bam Aquino on Sunday, 19 October, vowed not to let the probe into the anomalous multi-billion-peso flood control projects nationwide die amid strong public clamor for accountability.

During his recent trip to Naga City, Aquino said he was approached by an airport shuttle bus driver urging him to pursue the investigation into the questionable flood control projects.

"The next day, in the public schools, the teachers said the same thing. They told me not to let go of the investigations. To jail those involved. The people are angry," he added.

Aquino stressed that the ball is now in the government’s court, as it should act on the evidence presented and make those behind the anomalies accountable.

“It's time for action, and the onus is on the government to act on the evidence, to act on the cases. That's what the people are looking for right now,” he said.

“The best Christmas gift for people is may mga cases na mapa-file and someone will go to jail," he added.

Aside from the filing of cases against those involved, Aquino said the government must also ensure the recovery of public funds and the implementation of systemic reforms that will eventually eliminate corruption in the budget system.

“We need to see people jailed. The money needs to be returned. But we need to see some systems put in. So this is a system, live-streaming the bicam and putting the documents online. That's a systemic change,” Aquino pointed out.

On Friday, 17 October, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said it has started forming interagency teams to investigate hundreds of anomalous flood control projects across the country.

It tapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and various engineering groups, including those from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and civil engineers’ organizations.