BACOLOD City – The lone district representative of this city has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend protection to whistleblowers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid the controversy surrounding flood control projects nationwide.
In a statement released on August 25 through his official social media account, Cong. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez stressed that the DOJ must act decisively.
“The DOJ must not wait for witnesses to step forward if we want to try, convict, and imprison all those who have plundered public funds intended to save our people from the threats of flooding,” he said.
He urged the DOJ to seek out and protect, under the whistleblower program, DPWH officials, employees, and other individuals with key information who are willing to testify against what he described as a “massive, corrupt conspiracy at work.”
“Pagkakataon na ito para maisiwalat nila ang katotohanan. Responsibilidad ng pamahalaan na bigyan sila ng plataporma at karampatang proteksyon upang maitaguyod ang katotohanan,” the lawmaker emphasized.
Benitez admitted that the battle to hold accountable those who endanger lives through corruption will be “long and hard,” but said it is necessary to push forward.
“This is something we cannot set aside if we wish to change things for the better — to have public infrastructure that takes no shortcuts and does not jeopardize life and safety, to have government processes free from corrupt practices, and to instill fear in the hearts of those who would corrupt the system for material gain,” he said.
Meanwhile, to address flooding concerns in Bacolod and neighboring areas, the congressman is spearheading a Flood Control Summit that will gather local residents, national and local government officials, contractors, and technical experts to discuss and adopt practical solutions.
Last week, he met with Bacolod City officials, representatives from DPWH, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Bago City’s Vice Mayor Andrew Martin Yulo Torres, among others, for a preparatory meeting.
“This planning session allows us to set the agenda, identify urgent concerns, and ensure that the summit will lead to concrete and effective solutions,” Benitez said, adding that flooding is a shared challenge that requires collective action to better safeguard communities./PN
