Resumption of flood control probe sought by labor leader

Labor leader Atty. Luke Espiritu called for the reopening of the investigation into the anomalous flood control projects and called to include President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the probe because he believes that the chief executive is also allegedly involved in the massive government flood-control corruption scandal.

Espiritu, national president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and co-convenor of Artikulo Onse coalition, believes that those who were punished and imprisoned are not the true masterminds, but merely sacrificial lambs.

"It's like they are just doing cosmetic solutions, and it's just a sacrifice. For example, [former House speaker] Martin Romualdez, he was jailed, but his case was already cooked. So, what Marcos did, he just threw allegations of corruption on others, but in the end, he should be shielded," Espiritu told DAILY TRIBUNE in an ambush interview during an anti-corruption rally outside Senate in Pasay City, organized by Artikulo Onse coalition and other progressive groups.

"There will not be a real investigation in the flood control controversy and corruption scandal if we don't investigate Marcos himself, the mastermind of that budget," the labor leader added.

According to Espiritu, Marcos has the biggest role from the budget preparation to the legislative deliberation and to the implementation of the budget.

"Resume the investigation and investigate Marcos himself. If you don't investigate Marcos, your investigation will be half-baked," the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino president said.

"Not only half-baked, you will do a lot of cover-ups to protect the president. Only there will there be a real and impartial investigation," the labor leader added.