Probe of Isabela bridge collapse pushed

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Sunday called for a congressional probe to determine accountability at all levels of government, not only of low-level personnel, for the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela.

Castro alleged that corruption and substandard materials, not just negligence, could have caused the collapse of the newly retrofitted infrastructure.

READ: 6 hurt as new bridge in Isabela collapses

“It is alarming that a P1.22-billion bridge that was just retrofitted on Feb. 1 has already collapsed. This is not a simple accident or mere negligence. We need to examine the possibility of corruption and substandard materials,” she pointed out.

The Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge, which took over 10 years to complete, collapsed when a dump truck carrying over 100 tons of quarried stones crossed despite the bridge’s 40-ton weight limit and resulted in the injury of eight persons. —Jeannette I. Andrade

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