Hontiveros: Resignation will not absolve officials involved in anomalous projects

National

RESIGNATION will not spare officials behind ghost and substandard projects from liability, Senator Risa Hontiveros said, stressing that accountability demands full legal culpability.

Speaking at a press conference in Cebu City on Saturday, September 6, Hontiveros asserted that no one should be exempt from scrutiny, including her colleagues in the Senate and other lawmakers.

“Ano yong mga degree ng culpability? Ano yong mga kaso na dapat i-kaso sa ma-expose namin na culpable dito?,” she asked.

Hontiveros underscored that corrupt officials misuse public funds and must face legal consequences.

“Hindi pwedeng simpleng pagreresign lang, hindi pwedeng simpleng maca-cancel lang ang lisensya, hindi pwedeng simpleng na chichismis lang sa social media,” she said.

Her call came amid public outrage over defective flood control projects that exposed lapses in government oversight and raised concerns over possible misuse of public funds.

At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Hontiveros pressed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to uphold accountability, reminding the agency that taxpayers should not shoulder the costs of failed projects.

Hontiveros reminded the agency that taxpayers should not be burdened with paying twice for failed flood control projects.

DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral affirmed this position, noting that contractors are responsible for warranties and must correct defects or irregularities at no additional cost to the government.

She said contractors who fail to comply would face penalties, including the denial of final billing and retention money.

Cabral explained that flood control projects are classified as semi-permanent structures with a five-year warranty, while bridges and other permanent structures carry a 15-year warranty.

Hontiveros pointed out that defective or ghost projects should not take five years to detect, stressing the urgency of immediate accountability.

Cabral expressed support for Hontiveros’s proposed “1-strike” or “zero tolerance” policy for contractors found guilty of fraudulent or substandard work.

She also welcomed the senator’s “Doble gastos, doble danyos” proposal, which seeks to compel erring contractors to shoulder double the cost of construction and repairs.(MyTVCebu)