Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo hopes Sen. Leila de Lima is not only grandstanding in seeking a probe on two major infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration. INQUIRER FILE
Malacañang is hoping that the planned Senate inquiry of detained Sen. Leila de Lima on two infrastructure projects of the government won’t be for “political grandstanding purposes.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said government officials were ready to cooperate on a possible Senate inquiry after de Lima filed Senate Resolution 927, urging the upper chamber to probe the impending demolition of thousands of residents in Manila affected by the construction of the P23 billion North Luzon Expressway—South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project and the P171 billion North-South Commuter Railway Project.
READ: De Lima seeks Senate probe of 2 Build, Build, Build projects
De Lima said some residents of Manila have complained that government agencies “have failed to adequately consult with them concerning the right-of-way negotiations.”
Panelo, however, said feasibility studies have been done before the rollout of the projects.
“Feasibility studies have been conducted, including the general impact on the economy and the living conditions of affected residents, prior to the approval of the construction of these projects as standard procedure,” he said in a statement Sunday night.
“Hence, we are certain that agencies of the government involved have taken the concerns raised in consideration and will continue to coordinate and work hand in hand to protect each and every interest subject of these concerns,” he added.
The Palace official said heads of concerned agencies were ready to cooperate with the planned probe.
“[W]e expect our relevant heads to attend the hearing, if and when they are called as resource persons, not only as a courtesy to a co-equal branch of the government but also to inform the public that these projects are definitely in order,” he said.
“We only hope that this inquiry initiated by the lady senator is truly in aid of legislation and not for political grandstanding purposes only, as she has the habit of doing,” he said.
Few months before the 2019 midterms elections, Panelo said the opposition would recourse to moves that would discredit President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Election season has arrived and with the President’s ratings remaining high, the political opposition’s recourse is to score political brownie points by foisting demolition and relocation, both gut issues on the part of the urban poor, to attack the President,” he said. /cbb