Those behind DPWH ghost projects will ‘face consequences,’ warns Go

Sen. Christopher Go (Photo from his office)

MANILA, Philippines — Anyone found to be involved in alleged ghost projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will “face consequences” — dismissal, trial, imprisonment — as warranted.

According to a statement issued on Sunday, Sen. Christopher Go issued the warning in an interview on Saturday, after he led the distribution of aid to flash flood victims in San Pablo City, Laguna.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte had instructed the task force investigating corruption in government to check on the alleged DPWH ghost projects.

“If there are ghost projects, those who should be held responsible will be held responsible,” he said in Filipino.

The expanded task force recently created by the president is headed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

Go repeated what he said was Duterte’s constant reminders to anyone getting into government service: “Just do what is right and avoid corruption.”

“So when you get into corruption, you don’t follow the president’s reminder. You face the consequences,” Go said, speaking partly in Filipino. “Whether you will be fired, charged, imprisoned — face the consequences. We will really go after you.”

He then made an appeal to public servants to “shape up.”

“Those of you in government who are corrupt, have pity on the people. They paid their taxes. They expect nothing less,” Go said. “All the taxes that they paid can be used correctly and nothing will be wasted…  because of corruption.”

He also praised Public Works Secretary Mark Villar for forming a fact-finding task force to look into the allegations of corruption within his own department.

Go stressed that there must be “no sacred cows” and every official must take responsibility in cleansing their ranks, emphasizing the President’s warning that he would not tolerate “even a whiff of corruption.”

Go recommended preventive suspension for anyone suspected of corruption to preserve the integrity of the probe.

He also raised the need for lifestyle checks to identify government workers living beyond their means.

He said he was the one who recommended to the President the creation of a new and more empowered task force with an expanded scope to investigate reported anomalies in any government agency.

The task force will operate until Duterte’s term ends in 2022.

“President Duterte is already exasperated because of corruption in government. This is just like a pandemic that is destroying our normal way of life,” he said.

“The president wants to leave behind changes in the country, especially in this campaign against corruption — changes that all the people can feel. He wants people to remember that he fought against all corruption in government,” he said.

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