Ayon kay Senator Panfilo Lacson nitong Huwebes, na ang paghingi ng “kickback” ng mga lawmakers at mga opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) mula sa contractors na nanalo ng projects mula sa ahensya ay naging isa nang “open secret.”
“Officials from the executive and legislative branches who ask for only 10 percent are mabait, maginoong kausap, and those who demand 20 to 30 percent are matakaw,” sabi niya.
“Those who demand advance payments and renege on their word are balasubas and mandurugas,” dagdag nito.
Sinita ni Lacson kamakailan ang paglaki ng pondo ng local projects sa ilalim ng 2021 budget proposal ng DPWH, kung saan nagpapanukalang gumastos ang ahensya ng P667 bilyon para sa contruction ng multi-purpose halls para sa COVID-19 pandemic.
“The mangled version [of the DPWH’s budget] alone – which contained a pattern of decreased budgets for national projects and increased budgets for local projects – is highly questionable.”
“It has become an open secret that commissions or kickbacks have become the rule rather than the exception in the implementation of public works projects involving not only some corrupt officials of the department but some legislators as well.”