Ace Barbers presumes truth in some lawmakers' links to DPWH corruption

Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers on Monday indicated that there may be some truth to the allegation that some lawmakers are involved in the alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Barbers claimed that there were unverified reports that reached his office about his fellow congressmen supposedly in the alleged corruption at the DPWH, as claimed by Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) commissioner Greco Belgica.

Barbers also said that he had a few names in mind but had no evidence to back up his suspicions.

"A lot of these reports, although not yet validated at this point, I would presume na may katotohanan itong reports na dumating sa aking opisina. We've been in politics for quite a long time so we know that there are people in government that are actually engaged or involved in graft and corruption," Barbers said.

"What I'm saying is hindi naman maglalabas ng ganung statement si PACC if he has no legal basis so to speak, or he has not gathered enough evidence to name a few," he added.

Belgica earlier claimed that some congressmen are “bullying” DPWH district engineers, alleging conspiracy among lawmakers, contractors, and district engineers.

However, he said he would not identify these lawmakers, and he would submit instead their reports to President Rodrigo Duterte and to the appropriate agencies for the proper conduct of an investigation.

Barbers pointed out that while the PACC's move is a "great news" to stop systemic corruption, Congress is not covered under the commission's mandate.

"As we understood it, walang mandato or hindi covered ng PACC yung mga kongresista. Remember we belong to the legislature and PACC only covers executives or appointees in the executive department," he said.

Nevertheless, the House by itself can look into the allegations through an imprimatur from Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability or a resolution calling for an investigation, Barbers said.

"But ako personally ang feeling ko diyan, let the other agencies or the appropriate agency investigate it," he said.

"Remember the investigation to be done in Congress is in aid of legislation, so we have a lot of laws that protect public funds and recommend prosecution against corrupt officials," he added.

Earlier, House Committee on Public Accounts chair Mike Defensor said he would be willing to hold a House investigation on the supposed corruption within the DPWH but he also stressed that a third-party probe would be better if some congressmen are supposedly involved.

"Baka ang sabihin naman nila, self-serving. Gagawa ako ng investigation, pagkatapos [ang] mga kasamahan ko magkaroon ng absuwelto. Hindi maganda. So I would rather na they do a third-party invesigation—labas sa Kongreso, labas sa DPWH," he said. -NB, GMA News