Dennis Gasgonia

Workers at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector Project, Caloocan to Espana, on February 9, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DPWH-INFRASTRUCTURE

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Non-government organization Citizens Crime Watch has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a board of inquiry to look into allegations that some House members are involved in corruption in government infrastructure projects. In a press conference on Saturday, CCW president Diego Magpantay said he believes the move will show the President is sincere in weeding out corruption.&quot;Kung talagang seryoso po ang Palasyo Malacanang, si Pangulong Marcos, seryoso na habulin kung sino dapat ang habulin sa korupsyon ito... Kilalanin natin maigi sino ang accountable,&quot; he said. &quot;Suggestion namin sa Malacanang, bumuo siya [Marcos] ng board of inquiry parang yung ginawa sa Mamasapano. At i-suggest narin natin na yung mamuno diyan si Mayor Magalong,&quot; Magpantay added. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/8/name-names-officials-alleging-corruption-in-infra-projects-urged-1929">Name names, officials alleging corruption in infra projects urged</a></div>He said the probe must start with identifying those who are accountable.&quot;Hindi yung sila-sila. Sila yung may kagagawan, sila yung mag-iimbestiga sa sarili nila? Dapat independent. At Citizens Crime Watch sasali kami diyan sapagkat matagal na kami nagbabantay sa corruption,&quot; Magpantay added.&quot;Ang problema lang, sa daming naisampa naming kaso sa Ombudsman, nako isang katutak na kaso ang nasa Ombudsman, napakatagal mo maghintay,&quot; he said. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier accused some lawmakers of getting kickbacks of 30%-40% of the budget for flood control and infrastructure projects. In the same press conference, he agreed with Magpantay&#x27;s sentiment.&quot;Nagulat ako na yung mag-iimbestiga yung mismong House of Representatives. Para mong sinabi yung kriminal imbestigahan mo sarili mo. Hindi ko sinasabi na lahat sila involved, maraming matitino sa House of Representatives. Pero mas marami kasi may kalokohan diyan. It&#x27;s about time we deal with them,&quot; he said.<div> MAGALONG READY TO LEAD PROBE</div>Magalong said he has yet to hear from the House of Representatives on its probe, but expressed willingness to lead the investigation.&quot;I&#x27;m just waiting. Hanggang ngayon, very enthusiastic nga ako humarap sa kanila. And nabihintay pa rin ako ng kanilang summon. Wala naman ako natatanggap. Hindi rin sila nagsasalita kung ipapatawag nila ako. Andito lang ako naghihintauy,&quot; he said.&quot;In fact, nag-volunteer na ako, kung gusto nila, ako na mag-lead ng investigation eh. Basta importante i-attach nila sa akin yung Philippine National Police especially yung NBI,&quot; Magalong added. The local official said he has one request to lawmaker should he be invited to a House probe. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/palace-welcomes-lacson-expos-on-alleged-contractor-corruption-0120">Palace welcomes Lacson exposé on alleged contractor corruption </a></div>&quot;Kung saka-sakaling tawagan nila ako diyan sa kongreso, huwag nila ako tratuhin na ako yung akusado. Tratuhin nila ako na ako yung resource person. Huwag nila ako iintimidate diyan. Kasi ilang beses narin ako humarap at nakita ko kung papaano nila iintimidate yung ibang resource person. Huwag nila gawin sa akin,&quot; Magalong said.House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon earlier said those hurling allegations, such as Magalong, should provide evidence and name names.The lawyer turned lawmaker said they can invite Magalong once the panel tackled infrastructure projects, including flood control projects.<div> MAGALONG ON CONGRESSMEN</div>Magalong said based on the information he received, he identified two out of the three congressmen allegedly receiving kickbacks are from Luzon.&quot;Itong dalawang congressman na ito na nabanggit ko sa inyo, dito sa Luzon area ito. Tapos may titingnan kami ulit sa isang lugar. Marami, maraming dumadating na information ngayon. Kaya naghihintay kami sino mag-iimbestiga so we can provide this information to the investigating body,&quot; he shared.&quot;Incumbent sila. Tatlo na sila eh. Lahat sila incumbent at matatakaw,&quot; Magalong said. However, the local chief executive did not mention names nor specific locations when pressed on the matter.&quot;Marami kumokontak sa akin at ipinapakita nila itong mga projects na ito ay sponsored or initiated by certain congressmen. Lumalabas na yung congressman sila na rin ang mismong contractor,&quot; he shared.&quot;Ang sistema diyan sasabihin ng congressman para hindi halata na siya yung contractor, kukuha siya ng isang contractor din, bibigyan niya ng mga royalty let&#x27;s say 3% tapos bibigyan niya ng isang project,&quot; Magalong added. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/magalong-urged-to-show-proof-lawmakers-get-kickbacks-from-infra-projects-2041">Magalong urged to show proof lawmakers get kickbacks from infra projects</a></div>The Baguio City mayor also narrated how some suppliers allegedly mark up prices of materials and how some projects are supposedly being &#x27;cheated&#x27; or there are cutting corners. &quot;Napakarami nila ng scheme. At ang isa pa rito is itong mga mambabatas, nagpapalitan din sila ang mga best practices nila. Kung paano sila makakapangdaya. So ito, nangyayari na. Matalag na nangyayari ito. At lalong tumindi for the past three years,&quot; he said. Magalong claimed that in a recent League of Cities of the Philippines meeting that several mayors went up to discuss the matter.&quot;Maraming lumapit sa akin na mga mayor at sinabi nila na masama talaga loob nila sa nangyayari. Binanggit nila sa akin kung sino-sino corrupt na pulitiko. Sabi nga nila they&#x27;re willing to join me sakaling ipatawag ako sa House of Representatives,&quot; he said. During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos Jr. slammed corrupt government officials and contractors who supposedly earn kickbacks from flood control projects. The President also ordered a probe into possible corruption in flood control projects.Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan earlier denied a claim by a political blogger allegaing six lawmakers cornered P800 billion worth of flood control projects.According to Bonoan, the agency does not have any specific record on the alleged allocation, calling it “preposterous”.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/dpwh-chief-denies-6-lawmakers-cornering-p800-b-flood-control-projects-2104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DPWH chief denies 6 lawmakers &#x27;cornering&#x27; P800-B flood control projects</a></div>

Non-government organization Citizens Crime Watch has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a board of inquiry to look into allegations that some House members are involved in corruption in government infrastructure projects.

Non-government organization Citizens Crime Watch has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a board of inquiry to look into allegations that some House members are involved in corruption in government infrastructure projects.

Marcos Jr. urged to form board of inquiry to look into alleged infrastructure corruption

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Marcos Jr. urged to form board of inquiry to look into alleged infrastructure corruption

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 09, 2025 10:58 PM PHT

Read More:

Citizens Crime Watch

Benjamin Magalong

Flood Control Projects

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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