Muslim leaders asks Duterte for special body for Marawi rehab

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

Former National Labor Relation Commission (NLRC) Commissioner and founder of Sautol Haqq (Voice of Truth) Atty. Salic Dumarpa and other Muslim leaders appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to create an independent commission which will manage the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

Salic during the celebration of the Eid’l Fit’r made his appeal following the declaration made by Duterte that they have allotted P20 billion for the rehabilitation of Marawi City which was totally destroyed by clashes between Maute terror group and the government.

“This measure has several advantages than passing the responsibility to the national and local agencies. The commission cannot pass the buck to any office. It assumes full responsibility to the success or failure of the desired rehabilitation. Also, as the normal process of passing through several department heads is removed, except generally accepted accounting and auditing procedures, all transactions are enhanced and expedited,” he said.

He said the accountability of officials involved in the procurement process and in the implementation of contracts is easily achievable and when circumstances warrant, investigation follows and held liable for any violation of law.

“Transparency in the procurement process and in the implementation of procurement contracts through wide dissemination of competitive public bidding opportunities by all concerned and strict observance of the Law on Government Procurement Reform Act,” he added.

Dumarpa said the creation of the independent commission is to avoid a duplication of the Yolanda Funds controversy which was marred with onerous fund disbursements.

He said when there were agencies involved, bureaucratic red tapes cannot be avoided and accountability can hardly be determined.

“There have been accusation that the people allowed the terrorist to slip into the city. But I doubt the factual and legal basis of this wild accusation. Not one resident would want to leave his house and abandon everything to the terrorists. Is this not a responsibility of the government through the local governments, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he pointed out.