ILOILO City – A Catholic priest here has slammed the congressional inquiry into flood control anomalies as a sham, saying lawmakers who pushed the projects are escaping scrutiny.
Monsignor Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, questioned the integrity of legislative inquiries: “A congressman investigating another congressman. A senator investigating another senator. They all have the same dirt in their hands.”
He urged the creation of an independent commission to lead the investigation.
Data from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, an online reporting portal, showed at least 280 flood control projects documented from 2022 to 2025 across Western Visayas, excluding Bacolod City and Negros Occidental which are now part of the Negros Island Region (NIR).
According to Oso, ongoing hearings place the spotlight on contractors only while sparing legislators who, he argued, are the “real masterminds.”
“Why only target contractors? The proponents of these projects, the congressmen and senators, must also be investigated,” he stressed in a radio interview.
Oso added that no multimillion-peso project can proceed without congressional approval and budget insertions from lawmakers.
Contractors may get only 10 percent of project funds, he alleged, while legislators pocket much larger cuts.
“As Sen. Panfilo Lacson once said, everyone has their own slice of the cake,” Oso said, adding that lawmakers’ accountability is far greater because they benefit more than builders.
He warned of the broader impact of graft: “If you steal from me, I alone am affected. But if you steal from the national coffers, you rob the whole nation, especially the poor.”
Oso cited government estimates that nearly P1.9 trillion has been lost to corruption, funds that could have helped 14.4 million poor families through food, schools, and basic services.
Instead, he lamented, communities are left with “substandard flood control, crumbling roads, and collapsing bridges.”
“Flood control is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “There are also schools, roads, and even bridges that are sinking.”
He also appealed for public vigilance, urging engineers, professionals, and citizens to report anomalies through the President’s complaint website, Sumbong sa Pangulo.
“This is public money. Accountability is greater because it is meant for the people’s welfare,” he said.
President Marcos Jr.’s “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website listed a little over 160 flood control projects in the province of Iloilo. Aklan followed with 57 projects in the towns of New Washington, Ibajay, Banga, Kalibo, Numancia, Malay, Balete, Malinao, Makato, Tangalan, Madalag, Libacao, Altavas, Buruanga, Batan, Nabas, and Lezo.
Antique logged 36 projects, spanning coastal and inland municipalities vulnerable to flashfloods and heavy rains – Sebaste, Bugasong, Sibalom, Barbaza, San Remigio, Patnongon, Hamtic, San Jose, Laua-an, Valderrama, Tibiao, and Culasi.
Capiz recorded 23 projects in Dao, Cuartero, Sigma, Panay, Dumalag, Mambusao, Jamindan, Pontevedra, Dumarao, Maayon, Panit-an, and Roxas City.
Guimaras posted the fewest at eight projects./PN
