By Ric Obedencio | 04:35 PM September 13, 2025
Cortes town councilor and now ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Johana Cabalit Initay urged her colleagues to denounce corruption on flood control projects prevailing in the country today.
“As such, let this august body express our collective sentiments condemning the perpetrators of ghost flood control projects and all other public projects of being substandard or unconscionable to the detriment of public interest,” she said in her privilege speech.
But the newly-stalled president, Philippine Councilors League Bohol chapter, said that “In my observation, most of us Boholanos are indifferent to the national issues that brings our country down,” she exclaimed.
She told her colleagues that indifference of the Boholanos would always provide a favorable condition for the culprit to triumph that, she pointed out, she cannot tolerate.
“For Boholanos to (to) remain silent and indifferent despite the insult and utter disregard of the sanctity of public trust by the public servant is a dangerous sign of callousness,” she said.
But her speech made no mention of Boholano politician linked to the alleged corruption.
The frenzy got the ire of some groups that starting yesterday staging the beginning of mass action against the perceived corruption in the billions in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), linking some congressmen and senators in the on-going investigation in aid of legislation.
“I strongly condemn all forms of corruption. As a crusader and enlighten public servant, I cannot just simply turn my back and close my eyes in ignoring,” she said.
She urged the citizens, civil society organizations to take action and vigilant and monitoring public works and projects, even as she tries to urged mainstream media, social media to expose any act of corruption from the very inception.
Initay believes that thru vigilance and expose’s she sure that any forms of stealing the people’s money can be halted by vigilance. “If democracy is truly meant to be the rule of the people, then let our people rule, the voice of the lowly people be heard.”
She also proposed for passage of a resolution, for the conduct of an inventory of government projects and create Technical Working Group (TWG) to monitor such projects. (rvo)
