BBM to create independent probe body on DPWH projects

President Marcos is set to create an independent body that will investigate anomalous flood control and other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) across the country, the structure of which is still being finalized.

- HELEN FLORES, Elizabeth Marcelo, Mayen Jaymalin

This comes after Marcos accepted the resignation of Manuel Bonoan as DPWH chief over the weekend.

"We are putting together the EO (executive order) that will create the independent commission," Marcos said after attending an event in Pasay City yesterday.

"It depends on how it's structured. Will it be composed of five members, seven members? Who will head, chair it? All of those things. So we haven't put the structure together yet. But the names I think I mean it," Marcos said in mixed English and Filipino when asked who will head the commission. He did not elaborate.

However, he revealed that the panel will include forensic investigators, lawyers, justices and prosecutors.

It is tasked to come up with a recommendation to the ombudsman or Department of Justice on the legal actions to be taken against individuals responsible for the questionable projects based on the evidence and the information received by the government, he added.

"They will recommend to the Executive what to do with certain parties who have been found to be part of all this corruption that has been going on, not only in flood control. All of the workings within DPWH," the Chief Executive said.

"(The body) will look at the evidence and look at the information that we have and they will put together that information and make the recommendation to either DOJ or the ombudsman, depending on who is found to be liable for some of these nefarious activities," he said.