Ombudsman can compel ex-QC solon to testify — LCSP
Photo courtesy of Atty. Ariel Inton / FB
The Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) disclosed that the Office of the Ombudsman may compel a former Quezon City congressman to testify about alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
LCSP founder and president Atty. Ariel Inton told DAILY TRIBUNE that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla “can call the former QC lawmaker to tell all what he knows about the controversial flood control projects.”
Inton stressed that Remulla “can send subpoena to compel this former Quezon City congressman to tell all,” adding that this could reveal “more schemes” on how funds for the projects were mishandled.
The LCSP president also suggested that the Office of the Ombudsman should inform the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) of the lawmaker’s identity so the commission can invite the individual to shed light on its investigation.
Inton pointed out that the identity of the former congressman should be easy to determine, stating, “You can count the former Quezon City congressmen on your fingers.” However, he noted that Ombudsman Remulla recently stated the former lawmaker has backed out of his intention to “tell all.”
The controversy was sparked last week when Remulla revealed that an unnamed former Quezon City lawmaker had sent feelers expressing an intent to expose information about the anomalous flood control projects.
Inton urged that whoever the former congressman is, Remulla “must be compelled to appear, to tell all,” and perhaps execute a genuine affidavit “recorded via video in front of lawyer.”
Research into the identities of former Quezon City congressmen highlighted various past and present political figures in the city’s six districts. Among those mentioned are former Speaker Sonny Belmonte (District 4) and former congressmen like Mike Defensor and Allan Reyes (District 3).
In Districts 5 and 6, which are newer, former Representative Alfred Vargas and current representatives PM Vargas (District 5) and Marivic Co-Pilar (District 6) have been mentioned in earlier investigations related to the anomaly.