BACOLOD City – Cong. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has called on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to take a leave of absence out of delicadeza while an audit of flood control projects is underway.
In a Facebook post, Benitez stated: “When there are questions about a company’s finances, you don’t ask the accountant to audit himself. You bring in someone independent to find the truth.”
He added that the same principle should apply in government and the implementor should not be the evaluator.
Benitez emphasized that stepping aside, even temporarily, would help uphold the credibility of the ongoing investigation.
“Out of delicadeza, and to help preserve the integrity of any inquiry, I respectfully urge the DPWH Secretary to take a leave of absence while the investigation is ongoing,” he said. “This simple act of good faith will go a long way toward restoring public trust and ensuring that the process is impartial and credible.”
The congressman’s remarks come in the wake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, ordering the DPWH to submit a list of flood control projects implemented since the start of his administration in 2022.
The President said he had personally observed some substandard and even collapsed flood control structures during his inspection of areas recently affected by flooding caused by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones.
In response, Marcos ordered a comprehensive audit and performance review of all flood control structures across the country as part of his administration’s intensified anti-corruption drive in infrastructure development./PN
