The Center for Anti-Graft and Corruption Prevention, Inc. asked the World Bank (WB) yesterday to make full public disclosure and publication of the recently completed report on the alleged irregularities in the $33-million first phase projects of the National Road Improvement and Management Program (NRIMP).
In a three-page letter dated Nov. 24, Lane Afable, the group’s secretary general, told Maryse Gautier, World Bank country director in Manila, that the disclosure of the report is necessary for transparency.
“We were utterly dismayed by WB‘s move to defer the release of the resolution to the public with its flimsy alibi that ‘it is not yet ready to disclose highlights of the report’, since it entirely denied us, Filipinos, of our right to information as guaranteed by Section 7, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, especially on such matter that is of crucial public concern,” said Afable.
“It is imperative that the public must be properly informed by World Bank on the truth on alleged bribery and 35 incidents of collusion and rigging of the bidding process for NRIMP-1, including the identities of public officials and private individuals involved in that highly-corrupt and irregular activities that totally desecrated our laws…” part of the letter reads.
The letter was also sent to Bishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Sen. Loren Legarda and Senate President Manuel Villar.
Afable said the World Bank, having been in long-standing business partnership with the Philippine government for socio-economic development goals, must maintain, at all times, a high-level of honesty to Filipino taxpayers.
He said his group, which is also known as The Center, is committed to ensure a government that will be truly representative of the people.