Lawyer Jordan Pizarras has said he is willing to file charges against corrupt government officials as the country grapples with anomalies related to flood control projects.
Speaking to Ardy Araneta-Batoy over DYTR, Pizarras said he has received “feelers” asking about various projects and believes investigations should be launched into these undertakings.
“If there is evidence of anomalies, I will file charges,” he said, adding that he acknowledges groups equally willing to pursue legal action against corruption.
Pizarras, who ran for Congressman in the First District of Bohol last May 2025 elections, stressed that change must start with the people rather than relying on a few individuals to reform government.
The lawyer explained how the corruption system operates, noting that projects built by District Engineering Offices cannot be tagged as completed without passing through accountants, who control payment to contractors.
Projects typically begin with a proponent, usually a lawmaker, he said.
Sometimes the proponent pushes for a favored contractor to be used.
“Such modality is being practiced where alleged insertions were done in a certain district, where projects proposed allegedly use preferred contractors,” Pizarras said.
While district engineers implement projects, the process has allegedly been rigged.
Problems arise when projects do not exist despite regular inspections, or when substandard projects disintegrate due to poor construction.
Accountants play a vital role as they certify fund availability and authorize payments to contractors, making anomalies impossible without their participation, he explained.
Missing project documentation may indicate shortcuts in implementation, Pizarras added.
Some projects are implemented in phases to circumvent policies requiring regional offices to handle projects above certain cost thresholds, allowing engineering districts to maintain control.
He noted that flood control projects should be implemented holistically.
Pizarras said he has heard rumors of possible anomalies in Bohol, where politicians allegedly continue purchasing big-ticket items and engaging in construction activities, creating clear conflicts of interest.
“I’m not accusing but asking why the situation surfaces,” he said, declining to name individuals.
The lawyer stressed that lawmakers’ primary function is legislation, not infrastructure building.
“A good lawmaker knows his way in making laws and to push for his legislation in Congress,” he said.
According to Pizarras, sitting congressmen often choose district engineers and allegedly decide which contractors receive projects.