Telegraphing punches

THERE’S nothing wrong with reporting to the public that at least 421 of the 8,000 flood control works in the entire archipelago were non-existent or “ghosts.”

But the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under aggressive and tough-talking Vince Dizon appears to be telegraphing the government’s punches against unscrupulous contractors.

We’re sure the number does not end in 421. It appears it’s only the tip of the iceberg—especially when probers go down deep in the Visayas and Mindanao.

If Dizon’s team composed of field inspector from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) will conduct the probe in full swing, more skeletons will emerge from the closet.

Why not continue with the investigation and flood control project scam-hunting, gather sufficient pieces of evidence against the erring contractors and their politician padrinos, and file cases in court thereafter before disclosing how far they have gone, so far?

We advocate transparency in as far as the findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the fact-finding body created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into the flood control anomalies, are concerned.

But we think it’s healthier and more effective if Dizon, et al refrain from revealing all the aces in their sleeves while the marching orders to locate all those “ghost” projects are ongoing and not yet concluded.

“Initially, 8,000 projects nationwide were validated, and of these, 421 were identified as ghost projects by the AFP, PNP, and (DepDev),” Dizon was reported to have declared recently in a press conference after a closed-door meeting with ICI officials.

“This is just the initial phase, because there are so many. Hundreds of thousands of these projects still need to be validated.”

While so many cooks spoil the broth, excessive talking is a leakage that will sink you into the ocean of troubles.

While Dizon, et al showboat in every press conference they assemble to report the latest figures of their scam-hunting, fraudulent contractors and their politician collaborators study and plot their next move and may be bidding to forestall the government’s next move.

With their billions of loots, these rascals can afford to dilly dally the course of justice system and might succeed to wiggle out from the abyss by doing the offensive move and employing squid, among other dirty tactics.

Money still talks and everyone has a price in the Philippines, pardon this frankness.