Kamanggagawa Partylist Representative Eli San Fernando on Monday challenged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to match his anti-corruption rhetoric with decisive action by ordering a mandatory lifestyle check, SALN audit and bank account probe of all DPWH regional directors and district engineers nationwide, amid mounting outrage over failed and substandard flood control projects exposed online across the country.

“Kung seryoso talaga ang administrasyong Marcos na may mapanagot sa mga palpak na flood control projects, ipag-utos niya ito. Walang gustong umamin sa kalokohan sa flood control at infra projects, e di paaminin natin. Sumailalim sa lifestyle check, SALN audit, at pagsusuri ng bank accounts lahat ng regional directors at district engineers ng DPWH,” San Fernando declared. “Kung talagang malinis, wala silang dapat ikatakot. Pero kung totoo ang alegasyon, dapat ilantad at panagutin.”

The Kamanggagawa lawmaker stressed that once these officials are exposed, the web of protection around them can also be unmasked.

“Kapag nakita natin sino ang mga tiwaling opisyal na ito, mas magiging madali para sa gobyerno na hanapin ang mga kasabwat nila: maging congressman, senador o sino mang makapangyarihang tao ang pumoprotekta sa kanila,” he added.

San Fernando said PBBM has the full power of government at his disposal, and that the Filipino people are waiting for him to act.

“Mr. President, todohan mo na. Napadala nga ng gobyerno si Duterte sa ICC at natunton si Quiboloy kahit nagtatago sa ilalim ng lupa. Pero itong mga opisyal na hayagang nangungurakot ng flood control funds, hindi pa rin mahuli at mapanagot?” San Fernando said. “You have the entire government machinery at your disposal. Use it to clean up DPWH. Show the people you are willing to take on the system, not just your enemies.”

San Fernando stressed that three weeks have already passed since the administration announced its probe into flood control projects, yet the public has only seen lists of contractors and project site inspections. He said the lack of real accountability, coupled with the slow pace and limited scope of the investigation, raises serious doubts about the administration’s sincerity.

“Hindi ito sapat,” San Fernando said. “Kung seryoso ang gobyerno laban sa korapsyon, hindi lang dapat puro ocular inspection at papogi sa media. Kailangan makita ng taumbayan ang aktwal na pananagot ng mga opisyal ng DPWH at ng kanilang mga kasabwat na lumalangoy sa pera habang nilulubog ang bayan sa baha. Accountability must not drown in excuses while our communities drown in floods. Mr. President, naghihintay ang taumbayan.”

San Fernando warned that corruption in flood control projects is not a minor issue but a direct threat to people’s lives in the middle of a worsening climate crisis.

“Habang lumalakas ang mga bagyo at lumalala ang pagbaha buhat ng climate crisis, ang bawat pisong ninanakaw sa flood control projects ay katumbas ng buhay na inilalagay sa panganib. Our people are made to suffer twice: first from the floods, and second from the corruption that steals their protection,” he said.

Just last week, August 13, San Fernando also pressed PBBM to reveal the names of officials and lawmakers implicated in anomalous flood control projects, but lamented that the administration has been dragging its feet in the investigation.

The Kamanggagawa lawmaker vowed to continue raising the issue in Congress and press for transparency in infrastructure spending. He said the public deserves full disclosure of all DPWH projects, contracts, and officials’ financial records.

“Kung tunay na accountability ang layunin, make this happen,” San Fernando concluded. “This is where we can prove that corruption will not be tolerated, no matter how entrenched.”