IF THE ADMINISTRATION thinks that coming out with an initial list of 16 to be jailed over the so-called flood control scandal, they should seriously consider the idea of thinking twice.
This comes as the social media exploded in discontent and rage.
There was a uniform conclusion that the mugshots presented to the media were just “small fries” not the real big guns, who planned, executed and whizzed off with huge stolen money from people’s taxes.
One challenged the authorities to come up with “small catch or no catch,” while another said “pa small catch, small catch ka pa kapag di nahuli ang master kukuha uli ng bagong uutusan. Anong silbi ng small catch, wala.”
The perception drawn from their reactions is that it’s all for “show” as the “master of crocodiles” have not been arrested and jailed. “Who is the mastermind of crocodiles. Where is the MR (referring to presidential cousin, the former Speaker Martin Romualdez) not in the list.”
When will the main character be arrested, someone asked and another worte”These aren’t the main characters, all are just supporting casts only. People above are the living proofs that if you don’t have big positions ikaw una.”
Still another said “we are only just dealing with the fruits not the roots,” and another asked “how about the involved public officials. yan tayo e.”
“Until the real culprits are held accountable, justice can’t truly be served. You know who the real masterminds are,” one commented.
“Yung mga congressmen at senador,” another FB user quipped as another one challenged the investigators: “I think these people should be given the chance to say or state the process of kickbacks.”
One FB user, obviously basing on the list of DDS (Duterte Die-hard Supporters) that came out last week was looking for the names of: Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co, First Lady Liza, Senate President Tito Sotto, Sen. Ping Lacson (chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the flood control scandal), Sen. Bong Go and the congressmen.
Several FB users expressed their view that injustice had been done to former MIMAROPA DPWH Regional Director Engr. Gerald Pacanan, who had been doing his work religiously, was not implicated in any ghost or substandard projects and had complied with all engineering standards on roads, bridges and infrastructures, including flood control. Yet, they lamented, he is among those in the list with mugshot.
Another even commented that those arrested based on the list released by the Presidential Communications Office said “Parang mga utility o drivers ng contractor at congressmen lang yan ah para maipakita kuno sa taong bayan na may hinuhuli. di yan ang gusto namin makita. Mga butiki lang yan, nasaan ang buwaya.” Another said “mga karpentero lang siguro ito.”
The list and mugshots posted by PCO on FB elicited 9,100 comments and 2,000 shares (as of posting time).
By and large, netizens are of the view that politicians who were accomplices with higher criminal offenses must have their mugshots also. “The public is not dumb and naive, the anomalies will always involve the politicians.”
One FB user even commented that “Ito ang patunay na may double standards sa ating sistema ng hustisya. Ang mga maliliit agad kinakasuhan, pero ang mga malalaking kurakot, protektado.”
What can DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, the Department of Justice and Ombudsman do to rectify this massive disenchantment and public dismay?