Being a project proponent is not necessarily wrong.
In fact, even private citizens can become one, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official told the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday.
This came up during the questioning of Associate Justice Ronald Moreno to engineer Gerald Longoria of the DPWH programming division, during the malversation trial of former Senator Bong Revilla, who is the alleged proponent of a P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan which prosecutors say is a “ghost” project.
Moreno asked if there is nothing wrong with being a proponent, to which Longoria responded: “Yes. Anyone can propose.”
Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chairperson, interjected to ask: “Has the DPWH received a letter from a private citizen or a group asking for a road?”
Longoria answered in the affirmative, but added he could not remember any when Miranda asked him to give a specific example.
Moreno then ordered Longoria to provide the court a list of all proponents of the project, which he said was all provided to him by late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral.