'Punish contractors, accomplices for flood control graft'

Erring private contractors and their accomplices in the government should face the certainty of punishment once failed or ghost flood control projects are identified, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

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"Someone must be held accountable. If not, the flood control mess will continue, with culprits lying low and going back to business," Lacson told Bombo Radyo Philippines.

Almost P2 trillion had been allocated for flood control projects since 2011, Lacson bared last week.

Up to half of the amount may have ended up in some people's pockets, he noted.

President Marcos has ordered an audit of flood control programs, a publicized list of failed and ghost projects and the filing of charges against those responsible.

Congressmen are receiving 35 to 40-percent kickbacks from infrastructure projects, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong claimed yesterday.

Corruption starts when lawmakers select the district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), he said.

"Lawmakers are selecting them, not the public works secretary," Magalong said.