CIDG prepares team for bunkhouse probe

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Tasked by Rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson to look into the anomaly behind the overpriced bunkhouses for supertyphoon Yolanda survivors, the police investigation body said Wednesday there would be “no sacred cows” in its probe.

Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group told the reporters Wednesday that once the CIDG identifies the persons involved in the irregularities, they will immediately file cases against them.

This was after an alleged deal surfaced between contractors and at least one politician on the construction of substandard bunkhouses in Eastern Visayas priced excessively to pocket kickbacks.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), at least 203 bunkhouses—each unit divided into 24 rooms that would house as many families—are being built in more than a dozen towns in Leyte and Eastern Samar.

Although the PNP is yet to receive the formal letter from Lacson, Magalong said PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima had “approved in principle” the request of the former senator.

But Magalong clarified that while waiting for the letter, the PNP has already created a special investigating task force composed of selected CIDG and regional policemen to look into the alleged anomalies.

“Regional policemen in Eastern Visayas have started the preliminary investigation. We are studying the documents and right now we are still waiting for the feedback from the task force,” he explained.

Asked about the timeline of the investigation, the newly appointed CIDG chief said this would be established based on the pieces of evidence that will be turned over to them.

In a previous Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Lacson said he intended to complete the rehabilitation and reconstruction of typhoon-devastated areas by the time President Aquino steps down on June 30, 2016, as he was informed by experts that this was “daunting but doable.”

“We also need to confer with the experts to assess if our findings are consistent,” he added.

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