Another investigation?

Congressmen and senators are eagerly calling for the conduct of investigations in their chambers on the recent fire that gutted the Central Post Office building.

Why can’t they just wait for the Bureau of Fire Protection to conduct and complete their investigation, since the BFP are the ones directly responsible for fire incidences and they have the know-how and will best be able to determine what caused the blaze and what conditions of the building led to its near-complete destruction, and from there give recommendations on appropriate improvements to the building code.

The congressmen and senators are not capable or equipped to conduct such a technical inquiry. These lawmakers will only waste the time of the BFP and PHLPost officials while they grandstand in yet another legislative investigation. They would better spend their time – and our money – finding funds to rebuild the historic structure.

Of course they say it’s always “in aid of legislation” – how many hours – and how much of our tax money –have they spent on investigations, hearings, grilling or intimidating “resource persons” but have they come up with actual meaningful legislation?

Yes, their investigations have uncovered some sensational scandals and anomalies, as the “objective third party” they have exposed a lot of rot in agencies and systems. Like the fertilizer fund scam, the NBN-ZTE scam, the Pharmally scam which investigations could not be entrusted to the usual agencies, the Senate and House have been invaluable in unearthing and exposing the truth.

But in this Post Office fire incident, I think the BFP can and should handle the investigation. — Agie Luis Cortez, Pasay City