Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima expressed dismay over the alleged destruction and tampering of official documents linked to anomalous flood control projects by Department of Public Works and Highways employees.
“We are not surprised that minions of the syndicate and the ‘crocodiles’ have started to cover up their crimes. Given the magnitude of this corruption in the DPWH–the biggest corruption scandal in Philippine history–we expected these attempts at a cover-up,” De Lima said in a mixture of English and Filipino.
“In the meantime, I urge all relevant authorities, particularly the ICI, DPWH Sec. Dizon, the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and PNP [Philippine National Police], to safeguard the integrity of the remaining documents and records, retrieve those hidden or destroyed, investigate those behind the tampering and concealment, and impose swift sanctions–including preventive suspension and immediate dismissal–against those unscrupulous officials and employees,” the former justice secretary said.
De Lima said “criminals would not think twice about committing another crime–destroying, tampering with, and concealing public documents–to cover their tracks and ultimately escape accountability.”
She appealed to Congress to swiftly enact House Bill 4453, or the proposed Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act of 2025, which she authored with fellow legislators from the minority bloc.
The lawmaker also urged President Marcos to certify this bill as “urgent.”
