P-Noy’s anti-graft drive focusing only on ‘sins’ of the past
The alleged corruption behind the overpriced bridges program of the previous administration—originally unearthed by a civil society group called InfraWatch (Citizens Infrastructure Integrity Watchdog), and reported in some detail in the Inquirer’s Nov. 1 issue (“Probe on ‘overpriced’ bridges sought”)—is rather too horrendous and extremely unconscionable for anyone to let pass unnoticed. Sen. Serge Osmeña has been quoted in a related news report last month, not in the Inquirer, as saying the bridges cost only P33 billion, but was paid P66 billion. Alas, isn’t this the single biggest scam we have heard so far?
Senator Osmeña had apparently urged the Senate blue ribbon committee to investigate this as early as October, only to be told (or perhaps to realize and accept, hook, line and sinker) that the committee’s activities were yet too tight for a definite hearing to be scheduled. In the interim, one cannot help but be bothered by the naked fact that the Department of Public Works and Highways has been well aware of this anomaly all along; yet it knowingly continues to pursue the overpriced bridge projects until now.
If I were Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, as chair of the blue ribbon committee I would give this matter utmost priority. Well, unless there is truth to the widespread public perception that these endless Senate probes have been designed to solely focus upon the “sins” of the past—to hell with those of the present!—administration.
—RUDY L. CORONEL,
