DETAINED Senator Leila de Lima's call for a Senate inquiry into two infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration may be part of her "political grandstanding," Malacañang said on Sunday, November 4.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the remark, as the Palace took note of De Lima's appeal for a Senate investigation into the construction of the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project and the North-South Commuter Railway Project.
Panelo was not discounting the possibility that Duterte's critics like De Lima merely sought to besmirch the President's reputation, especially now that public support for his administration remains "high."
"We only hope that this inquiry initiated by the lady senator is truly in aid of legislation and not for political grandstanding purposes only, as she has the habit of doing,” Panelo said in a statement issued late Sunday night.
"Election season has arrived and with the President's ratings remaining high, the political opposition's recourse is to score political brownie points by foisting demolition and relocation, both gut issues on the part of the urban poor, to attack the President,” he added.
De Lima has filed Senate Resolution 926, urging the appropriate Senate committee to look into the construction of the P23-billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project and P171-billion North-South Commuter Railway Project.
De Lima wanted a Senate probe, after thousands of residents in 38 villages in Manila were reportedly affected by the two construction projects.
She noted that the two projects, which are scheduled to roll out this year, will lead to a massive demolition of houses in the said villages and relocation of thousands of individuals in "far and inaccessible sites."
“Mega-infrastructure projects such as these rarely, if at all, mention the social costs of these endeavors, particularly the physical and economic displacement of thousands of people just to give way for their construction in Metro Manila’s densely populated areas,” De Lima said.
Panelo said that the executive would let the heads of agencies involved in the projects to attend the Senate investigation, if it pushes through.
He said the relevant heads would cooperate with the Senate "not only as a courtesy to a co-equal branch of the government but also to inform the public that these projects are definitely in order."
"Feasibility studies have been conducted, including the general impact on the economy and the living conditions of affected residents, prior to the approval of the construction of these projects as standard procedure," the Palace official said.
"Hence, we are certain that agencies of the government involved have taken the concerns raised in consideration and will continue to coordinate and work hand in hand to protect each and every interest subject of these concerns," he added. (SunStar Philippines)