CBCP warns against derailing investigations on flood control scandal: 'No to a whitewash'
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is strongly condemning any action to cover up wrongdoings in the flood control corruption scandal.
In a statement on their website, the organization penned an open letter to the government warning against attempts to "whitewash" the issue. This comes as new rumors of a coup surface, and after Sen. Panfilo Lacson had decided to step down as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee amid accusations that he is allegedly protecting former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
"The Filipino people are watching closely. After the revelations of massive anomalies in flood control projects, any move to change Senate leadership or redirect investigations now would only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up," CBCP said.
They urged all public officials to uphold the integrity of the ongoing inquiries, noting that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure was created precisely to restore public trust.
"It must be empowered to investigate fully and freely, without political interference from any branch of government," CPCP said.
"We strongly oppose any attempt to pre-empt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice. A nation cannot heal when its moral arteries are clogged by corruption and self-interest," they added.
They went on to call for both Congress and Malacañang "to prove that they serve the common good, not partisan power."
"Let the ICI do its work—thoroughly, transparently, and without fear or favor. No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability," the group stressed.
"Only through truth can our nation begin to rebuild trust and ensure that flood control no longer becomes another flood of corruption," they ended.
'Senate is stable'
In a press conference on Oct. 6, Senate President Tito Sotto said that the Senate is "stable" under his leadership amid rumors of a coup.
"Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ['yung rumors] eh... In fact the other day nagkausap kami ni Senator Alan [Cayetano] at nababanggit na rin 'yan. [Siya] mismo nagsabi sa akin na, 'Wala naman akong kinakausap kahit sino eh,'" Sotto said.
He added that he is not expecting any attempts to unseat him before the Senate adjourns on Oct. 10.
The Senate President and Lacson previously shut down rumors of another Senate leadership shake-up in September, which claimed that Cayetano "secured" the numbers to replace Sotto.
On Sept. 8, Sotto replaced Sen. Chiz Escudero as the Senate President after earning 15 votes from fellow senators. Escudero's leadership was mired by several issues, including flood control project corruption allegations and his supposed non-action on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
