The Council of Concerned Citizens submitted its investigation report on alleged questionable flood control and public works projects in Bacolod City and the officials involved to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday, Nov. 27, C3 chair Renecito Novero said.
They submitted the C3 investigation report to help the government with facts, which they can use to file the necessary complaints in the proper forum, Novero said.
“We did not submit a formal complaint yet, we submitted results of our own investigation…They can conduct further investigation to authenticate our report and file appropriate complaints,” Novero said.
The report was also submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways Central Office, the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
C3 also included a supplemental urgent report of the recent flooding in Bacolod that the ICI can use for further investigation, Novero said.
Novero also said they are preparing the way for the filing of formal complaints because they believe that “rigged biddings were very flagrant among favored contractors numbering about ten”.
“Their closeness to the powers that be is very obvious,” Novero said
“That is our partial report, we are further gathering concrete evidence…to help government in the campaign against graft and corruption,” he said.
They may also file cases against some officials for unexplained wealth but it will have to be based on adequate evidence, Novero said.
“The report we are submitting is partial. But we shall continue, hopeful that the ripple we make will create waves of change we have yearned for in our dear city and nation,” C3 said.
The investigation will include issues on alleged rigged or pre-arranged biddings, overpriced contracts, borrowed contractors’ licenses, unlicensed joint venture contracts, sub-contracting which undermines the quality of project results, unnecessary flood control and road overlay projects, unfinished projects and sub-standard completion, and contractors’ election contributions which will help deter the perpetuation of graft and corrupt practices in all public works projects, C3 said.*