A former member of the Philippine legislature has been arrested on allegations that he diverted millions of dollars destined for flood-control works, a news report said.
According to Al Jazeera, prosecutors and investigators moved to detain the ex-lawmaker after an inquiry into the handling of funds allocated for flood-mitigation projects. The amounts involved have been described as running into the millions of dollars, and were earmarked for infrastructure meant to protect communities from seasonal flooding.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of public spending on disaster preparedness and response in the Philippines, a country frequently battered by typhoons and heavy seasonal rains. Critics and civil society groups have long warned that corruption and mismanagement can undermine efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
Details including the name of the arrested former lawmaker, the precise sum allegedly diverted, and the agency that effected the arrest were outlined in the Al Jazeera report. The case is expected to proceed through the country’s judicial and prosecutorial systems, and could prompt further reviews of how flood-control and disaster-risk funds are administered.
The development adds to a series of recent high-profile corruption probes involving public officials in the Philippines, underscoring ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency and accountability in public infrastructure spending.