MANILA — House leaders on Wednesday agreed it may be better for a third party to look into alleged irregularities in flood control projects amid concerns that members members of the chamber may be involved.

The House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, ha started an inquiry into the flood control projects, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted in his State of the Nation Address last month.

“Why would a body investigate itself? I think it would be wise and prudent on us to wait as to what the executive has to say and what their actions are with regards to the President's speech in the SONA," House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos — the President's son — said.

"I think we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves," he said.

Marcos said he sees "nothing wrong" in a third party conducting a probe into the matter.

"Again, this is all about transparency and accountability. That's why we have an open budget. That's why we're doing what we're doing. So whatever helps towards transparency, whatever helps towards accountability, everyone and anyone should be on board for it," he said.

A deeper look into Marcos’s list of top flood control contractors

He said that he believes the House can help by identifying potential anomalies in infrastructure projects, but will primarily be up to the executive branch "to be able to identify where these anomalies lie, given the fact that, again, the accused, so to speak, are within the legislature."

The Department of Public Works and Highways, which implements and oversees infrastructure projects, is part of the executive branch of government.

"There are plenty of things to be probed that are not solely reliant or do not rely upon the anomalies that the executive spoke about. The House can assist in many, many other ways," the younger Marcos said.

ALLEGATIONS NEED MORE DETAILS

House Senior Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon welcomed the prospect of a third party to investigate, saying if the chamber does it, "people will say we are investigating ourselves."

He added that the Office of the President is conducting its own investigation and that the House is ready to help “in finding the truth behind all these problems that the President has seen.” 

He added, however, that those alleging House members were involved in anomalous flood control projects should give specifics.

“You have to show who these congressmen are. You can't just be out there destroying the name of the institution without actual factual basis,” he said.

Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson previously claimed that around 67 House memebrs acted as contractors for government-funded infrastructure projects.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile, said some lawmakers get kickbacks of 30-40% of the budget for flood control and infrastructure projects.

15 contractors cornered P100-B worth of flood control projects since 2022: Marcos

'NO HAND' IN SUPPOSED DEMOLITION JOB VS ESCUDERO

Suarez also categorically denied that the House of Representatives is behind a supposed demolition job against Senate President Francis Escudero.

“Speaking for the House and for myself, I have no knowledge of it. Absolutely,” he said.

Majority Leader Marcos refused to comment on the matter, but noted that the allegation was against some House members and not the entire lower chamber.

“So let's just leave his statements at that. I don't really have anything else to comment as [Escudero] and I talk on a daily basis.”