00:00The House of Representatives has launched a tri-committee probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects
00:07with lawmakers assuring fairness in the inquiry amidst criticisms from fellow legislators, local officials, and even the Vice President
00:14while also opening the door for key personalities to testify and present evidence under oath.
00:21Armella Las Moras reports.
00:22The House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry Ridon assured that the House Tri-Committee's investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country will be fair.
00:35During the plenary session last night, the House has adopted House Resolution No. 145 which formally establishes the Tricom.
00:43In addition to Ridon's Public Accounts Panel, the Committees on Public Works and Highways and Good Government and Public Accountability are also part of the group
00:52which when combined will be officially called as the House in Fracom.
00:56But for ML Partili's Representative Laila De Lima, she had this to say.
01:00I take the position that it would not be prudent on the part of this House as it might entail possible conflict of interest.
01:10In short, the House itself investigating this issue.
01:16When there has been so many reports, when there has been so many speculations about the possible involvement of certain members of the House,
01:23this would not sit well to the public.
01:26The conflict of interest will depend on a project-to-project, case-to-case basis.
01:32Kasi, as we had been seeing, hindi naman po lahat ng mga proyekto involves legislators like congressmen and senators.
01:42In the event that a legislator, a congressman or a senator is named in the course of inquiry,
01:49they will be given the right to reply in that inquiry.
01:53But we will immediately recuse from further investigating and endorse it first to the Dep-Dev.
02:00But they have stated already that they will be undertaking independent investigation on all the projects.
02:06And if the president will create an independent probe, we will also endorse it to them.
02:12Some other personalities have also been criticizing the House lawmakers over the issue of flood control projects,
02:18including Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Vice President Sara Duterte.
02:23According to Ridon, to determine whether their allegations are true,
02:26they may also appear before the Infracom hearings.
02:29Just recently, the Vice President accused House members of allegedly having control over contractors
02:35and supposedly dividing up the national budget among themselves.
02:39Well, if she has actual information,
02:41na talaga hung she can say na this particular person receiving kickbacks,
02:48then she can be invited to the House inquiry.
02:50But it needs to be personal knowledge, hindi ba?
02:54Kasi she will have to do it on their own.
02:56Kasi mabigat ho na akusasyon yun eh, na pinagpaparti-partihan po yung pondo ng bayan.
03:03Hindi ba?
03:04House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chair Rolando Valeriano also pushed back against the statement made by the Vice President.
03:10So siguro po yung kinakalat ni Vice President na yan, eh, mukhang lies na naman po, mukhang kasinungalingan.
03:20Para siguro, pagtakpan niya yung ibang mga kapal pa kanya.
03:23Every time na meron siyang magiging problema, ituturo niya lagi yung Kongreso.
03:28So parang mali naman po yun.
03:29Mela Lesmoraz from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
