A NEW anti-corruption group called Artikulo Onse: Citizens’ War Against Corruption urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create an independent body to probe anomalous government projects, particularly on flood control.

Launched at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, the group said members of an independent commission could include members from the clergy, labor, retired magistrates, and people with credibility and integrity, said JV Bautista, secretary-general of the United Nationalist Alliance.

He said that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who has been outspoken about corruption in government infrastructure projects, would be a good member of the independent body.

Erin Tañada, acting Liberal Party president, said that the fight against corruption should not stop at just saying “Mahiya naman kayo (have some shame).”

Tañada was referring to a part of the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month at which he exposed irregularities in flood control projects as he castigated those involved — without naming names.

He said the “historical judgment” on the Marcoses (an apparent reference to the dictatorship of Marcos’ father, ex-president Marcos Sr.) may be erased if the campaign against corruption should push through.

Pushing for a genuine freedom of information where there is transparency for every level, he then echoed the others’ call to have courage to create an independent commission “to shed light and find where the money goes.”

They said Artikulo Onse will also launch a “shame campaign” if there is sufficient evidence of corruption against an individual or a group in both the public and private sectors.

Artikulo Onse' group calls for independent panel to probe flood control corruption

Bautista said many members of Congress were contractors themselves, including those in the party-list. He declined to identify any, however.

The newly launched group urged the Filipinos to come out and put to shame the corrupt.

The group that took its name from Article 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides that “a public office is a public trust,” said it would establish a network in at least 77 cities, which will serve as the “eyes and ears” of Artikulo Onse nationwide., This news data comes from:http://owlt-ir-hboq-vvv.gyglfs.com

“The network will document, expose and put to shame people proven to be engaged in corruption,” the group’s convenor, Ricky Rivera, said.

Rivera said the data that would be collated would then be posted on the group’s website, including videos, while charges would be filed against the corrupt individuals.