Investigations into the widening and deepening corruption scandal in government are deliberately refusing to include President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a calculated move to shield him from public outrage, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said.
Even as irregular budget insertions were allegedly ordered by Malacañang itself and the president reportedly benefitted from project kickbacks, the group is asking why no investigation is willing to mention Marcos Jr.
“The ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructures), Comelec (Commission on Elections), and Ombudsman are checking the records of legislators, contractors, and DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) officials but they have yet to initiate any serious investigation into the role of the President,” BAYAN secretary general Raymond Palatino said.
“Is there a deliberate effort to shield the Chief Executive who drafted the budget, whose alter egos defended it in Congress, who eventually signed it into law, and who caused the release of funds for billions-worth corruption-infested projects?”Palatino asked.
Everyone now but Bong Bong
The ICI and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier this week “recommended” the filing of charges against eight lawmakers with links to construction companies that benefitted from controversial flood control projects.
This followed the filing of charges against DPWH officials and engineers as well as private contractors who facilitated the payment of kickbacks against involved senators and representatives.
But former representative Elizaldy Co has revealed that the corruption reaches as high up as the presidents, alleging that Marcos Jr. himself ordered budget insertions worth P100 billion, more than half of which have been delivered to the president’s address in Forbes Park, Makati City.
Co also alleged the president’s family is involved in corruption, including presidential son Rep. Sandro Marcos who received billions in budget insertions, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and brother-in-law Martin Romualdez in the smuggling of agricultural products into the country.
Despite the dismissal of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman as well as several Palace executives following Co’s revelations, Malacañang dismissed its former ally’s disclosures.
Palace spokesperson Claire Castro pointed out it was in fact Marcos Jr. who started the investigations into anomalous flood control projects in his State of the Nation Address last July, proof that he is innocent of Co’s accusations.
But Makabayan Coalition lawmakers have also revealed that unprogrammed funds that were used for anomalous flood control projects were released only through presidential approval, making Marcos Jr. liable for graft.
Accountability for all
Still, no official investigation dares to mention Marcos Jr. despite the government’s messy response to piling accusations of the president’s involvement, BAYAN said.
“This does not appear to be a mere oversight or lapse of judgement but a calculated act to divert public attention from principal schemers, offer up fall guys to appease the public, and whitewash the system that breeds corruption in order to maintain it,” Palatino observed.
The group said a genuine effort to ferret out the truth would have meant verifying Co’s exposures by looking into the budget records, Congress sessions, and the alleged delivery of kickbacks inside Malacañang.
BAYAN added that the massive rally on Sunday it co-organizers will press the growing call for investigations on the president.
“The November 30 protest is the people’s response to Marcos Jr.’s calculated, if desperate, maneuvers to evade accountability as well as Sara Duterte’s duplicitous claim to being the rightful successor.
“Bagong Alyansang Makabayan calls on the people to protest in large numbers, express outrage against corruption and the ongoing cover up, and demand the dismantling of the rotten political system,” Palatino said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
