15 contractors not yet in blacklist

The 15 contractors exposed by President Marcos to have secured 20 percent of the P545-billion flood control projects in the country remain off the hook as they have not been accused of anything yet, Malacañang said on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

- BY BETHEENA UNITE

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the contractors were named because they have the most projects under their belt. Thus, the projects under them would be inspected, assessed, and checked if they indeed exist, she said, clarifying that the 15 contractors are not yet blacklisted.

Castro said the statistics released by Marcos on Monday raises the question on why they dominate the awarding of contracts.

"Because they are the ones with the most projects, so we will look into what these projects were, who dealt with them, and whether the work they did was of good quality," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

"Why is it that they are always the ones dominating? That is why the President released that information." "So, those are what will be checked. First, whether it is a ghost project or an existing one; if it is existing, is it operational; and if it is operational, is it effective in controlling floods," Castro explained.

Castro also maintained that the President will not name names yet, pending the probe. But the President will reveal them once the investigation is completed, she said.

The Palace official also encouraged lawmakers, who have information on flood control corruption, to directly report it to the President.

She further urged the public to do the same using the newly launched "Sumbong sa Pangulo" website.

There is no deadline for submitting reports via the website, according to her.