Lasallian brothers urge alumni in flood control body to act with courage

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September 18, 2025 | 2:18pm

MANILA, Philippines — The De La Salle Brothers have called on its alumni — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and members of the independent flood probe body — to embody the Lasallian values of "faith, service, and communion" as they take on the task of rooting out corruption in government projects.

In an open letter dated September 17, the religious order appealed to Dizon and all three members of the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure, all of whom are graduates of Lasallian schools.

The commission is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., with former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and business executive Rosanna Fajardo serving as members.

Call for 'uncompromising accountability'

The Brothers described the appointments of its alumni as placing them “at the forefront of our country’s fight against corruption and for full accountability."

"We, the De La Salle Brothers, address you as our dear Lasallians at the forefront of our country's fight against corruption and for full accountability and wish you every success in this vital fight," the letter read. 

It urged the officials to live out the Lasallian values of faith, service and communion as they carry out their mandate.

“We stand with you in uncovering the truth, correcting what is wrong, and advancing the cause of good governance and uncompromising accountability,” the letter read. 

The order expressed confidence that the group would meet the challenge of investigating corruption “with courage and fortitude, living up to the highest Lasallian ideals and the expectations of the Filipino people for truth, transparency, accountability, and justice." 

Lasallin backgrounds. Dizon attended De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila from 1991 to 1996, earning dual bachelor’s degrees: a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Commerce, major in Management of Financial Institutions. 

Reyes went to La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) for his grade school and high school. Then he did undergraduate studies, majoring in Economics, at DLSU in Manila.

Singson previously pursued a Master's in Public and Business Management at DLSU. 

Top Lasallian figures' letter. The open letter bore the signatures of leading figures in the Lasallian network in the Philippines and abroad.

These included Br. Armin Luistro FSC, the Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the global head of the Lasallian congregation, and Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC, Brother Visitor of the Lasallian East Asia District.

University presidents from across the De La Salle system also signed, among them Br. Bernard Oca FSC of De La Salle University, Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, Br. Kenneth Martinez FSC of University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, Br. Rey Mejias FSC of La Salle University–Ozamiz, and Br. Iñigo Riola FSC of De La Salle University–Dasmariñas.

The signatories also included Br. Marvin Sipin FSC, chairman of De La Salle Brothers, Inc.

Tough work ahead. The independent flood probe body — formed September 11 amid revelations of widespread anomalies in flood control projects. — has been billed as the face of the Marcos administration's crackdown on corruption in government projects. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the body , which intentionally did not include a politician as member, would wield subpoena powers but not contempt authority.

Its findings will be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, or Civil Service Commission for prosecution or administrative action.