President Rodrigo Duterte revealed the names of nine former and incumbent lawmakers allegedly involved in anomalous projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
In a public address Monday night, Duterte also named several DPWH district engineers allegedly tagged in the corruption and ordered their removal from their positions.
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) gave the list to the President after initiating the investigation in the DPWH.
Before revealing the names of the solons and DPWH officials, Duterte clarified that inclusion in the list does not mean “condemnation or indictment.” Duterte also mentioned presumption of innocence until proven guilty, adding the list should not be taken as “gospel truth.”
“The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that’s one; that it cannot be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would lie all throughout until conviction or acquittal…Kaya lang lumabas ‘yung mga pangalan nila eh kailangan ko sabihin sa mga tao. (The names were included so I must tell the people) or else I’d look stupid,” Duterte said.
Duterte names lawmakers, officials tagged in DPWH corruption
“To the members of Congress, I do not want a quarrel with you. We are independent of each other and this is not really my work…so that you would know this is in obedience maybe to my call for people who know of corruption kasi talagang exasperated ako sa corruption ng gobyerno (because I’m really exasperated with corruption in government),” he said.
“This is not indictment, this is not to destroy you, but be careful because you might… It works both ways. There might be somebody using your name or gumagawa hindi mo alam pagkatapos nire-report doon (without your knowledge and then report you),” he added.