Despite the lack of "hard evidence," President Duterte has bared the names of nine incumbent and former lawmakers allegedly implicated in anomalous public works projects.
In a televised address Monday night, the President also identified several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers allegedly involved in irregularities and sought their removal from their posts.
The list of names were given to the President by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) which recently initiated a probe on the alleged corruption in the DPWH.
Before reading the names in public, the President made clear that the inclusion in the PACC list does not mean "condemnation or indictment." He also cited the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, adding the public should not take the list as "gospel truth."
"The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that’s one; that it cannot be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would lie all throughout until conviction or acquittal...Kaya lang lumabas ‘yung mga pangalan nila eh kailangan ko sabihin sa mga tao. (The names were included so I must tell the people) or else I’d look stupid," Duterte said.
"I just want to assure everybody that ‘yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo (reading your names) is not a condemnation or an indictment that you are guilty of something. In the same manner that I would tell the people that do not take it as a gospel truth," he added.
The persons named by the President are Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas, Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal, Isabela 4th District Rep. Alyssa Tan, Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, and Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman.
Sato, Baguilat, Roman and other lawmakers have issued statements Monday night, denying the allegations hurled against them.
In reading the list, Duterte also clarified that he did not want to pick a fight with the lawmakers but cited his anti-corruption drive in government.
"To the members of Congress, I do not want a quarrel with you. We are independent of each other and this is not really my work...so that you would know this is in obedience maybe to my call for people who know of corruption kasi talagang exasperated ako sa corruption ng gobyerno (because I'm really exasperated with corruption in government)," he said.
"This is not indictment, this is not to destroy you, but be careful because you might… It works both ways. There might be somebody using your name or gumagawa hindi mo alam pagkatapos nire-report doon (without your knowledge and then report you)," he added.
The President also said several public works district engineers allegedly involved in anomalous projects are "relieved" from their posts starting Tuesday. He directed them to report to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on the same day.
"Now, I would like to ask Secretary Villar to give me the list of all district engineers and the districts they are assigned all over the country. I will reorganize the assignments,” he said.
Duterte further explained that he made a previous commitment that "I will let the public know who are the corrupt." He said he has a sworn duty to ensure public access to information applies to any government agency.
"It has come to me officially recorded, received, recorded in the books so it becomes a public document. Whether ako ang magbasa o hindi lalabas talaga ‘to (Whether I read it or it will be released) because they have the right to have access sa information. Maski sinong tao (Any person)," he said.
Last month, the President refused to identify and investigate the congressmen allegedly engaged in corruption in public works projects in their towns or districts, saying he has no jurisdiction over the members of the legislature. Duterte instead left to the Office of the Ombudsman to handle the matter.