Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has called for an immediate probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects in Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Speaking at a news briefing at Club Filipino in San Juan, Singson said investigations should begin there since the contractors involved are already known.
“The St. Matthew Construction, St. Gerrard Construction, St. Timothy Construction, and Alpha and Omega Construction — they are the contractors in Ilocos Norte, that’s why I am wondering why they don’t know about this,” he said. “Let’s not go far, they should investigate that right there,” he added.
Harsh Criticism of Corruption and Leadership
Singson linked the issue to broader corruption in government, saying the system has long been broken. “This government of ours, it’s rotten. It’s like a dilapidated vehicle — even if you overhaul it, even if you replace the parts, it’s still the same,” he remarked. While acknowledging that the country has “good laws,” he stressed that poor implementation remains the core problem.
He also weighed in on the new House leadership, describing newly installed Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela as a “good person,” but ultimately “the same dog with a different collar,” underscoring his doubts that reforms can happen within the existing system.
Call for Youth-Led Peaceful Movement
Positioning the youth as the driving force for change, Singson urged students and young leaders to take a stand against corruption. Rather than resorting to street protests, he proposed a school boycott until corrupt officials step down. “If they really want to, students should not attend classes until the corrupt officials in our government step down,” he said.
He also appealed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to allow their children to participate in peaceful rallies to ensure the safety of demonstrators. Singson said relying solely on Senate inquiries would be futile, emphasizing instead the need for collective action led by the next generation.
