Palace orders probe of P200-M 'road to nowhere' project

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Tuesday said it has ordered an investigation into the claims of opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson about a P200-million "road to nowhere" project. In a radio interview, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza insisted such irregularities should not slip past the Budget department's "due diligence." "That should be investigated and that will not slip past due diligence of the Budget department," Dureza said in Filipino an interview on dzXL radio. He added Malacañang has a system of looking at possible releases. On Monday, Lacson grilled Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr on a double entry for a stretch of road between Parañaque City and the South Luzon Expressway in the national budget for 2008. Lacson unearthed the redundant P200-million infrastructure project in the General Appropriations Act of 2008 during the Development Budget Coordinating Council at the Senate. During the DBCC hearing, Lacson questioned Andaya on the double appropriation in what he called the "road to nowhere." Andaya could only reply that it was a "congressional insertion." Under the 2008 GAA section on projects for Metro Manila, the Department of Public Works and Highways had an item for the construction of the President Carlos Garcia Avenue Extension from SLEX to Sucat worth P200 million. On the other hand, the same item appeared in the GAA under "Urgent Infrastructure Including Local Projects," this time under the item "Construction of C-5 Road Extension from SLEX to Sucat Road," with the same amount appropriated for it. "President Garcia Avenue Extension and C-5 are one and the same. Who knows what Malacañang will use the extra P200 million for? What we are sure of is that it will end up in the pockets of some Palace official," Lacson asked in a statement Monday. Lacson said that even if this were an initiative of Malacañang's allies, the Palace should show its "adherence to good governance" by haling those responsible to court. "Whether allies or not, Malacañang should initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for the insertion," he said. - GMANews.TV