Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday presented key evidence and policy recommendations drawn from at least seven hearings to finally curb the “systematic and parasitic” greed behind anomalous flood control projects – which he described as the largest corruption scandal in Philippine history.
Lacson also said he does not aim to indict or hand down a final judgment, but to establish a standard to assist authorities who shall evaluate the findings, determine probable cause, and take the necessary legal actions.
“The road to full accountability is long. But we must start to agree somewhere. This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits. We cannot let their efforts—and ours—go to waste,” he said.
“Mr. President, this report is a referral-and-reform package. Simple lang: imbestigahan nang legal, alamin kung ano ang nangyari, bawiin ang kaya pang bawiin, at ayusin ang batas—para hindi doble bayad ang Pilipino: sa buwis at sa delubyo ng baha (Investigate and find out what happened, and recover what can be recovered. Also fix the laws so Filipinos won’t pay twice – with taxes and with their lives because of the floods),” he added. “Kung mali ang alegasyon (If the allegations are wrong), the process clears them. Kung totoo (If they are true), the process convicts — with due process and accountability – makukulong ang dapat makulong (those who deserve to be jailed should be jailed).”
In Filipino: Lacson Inilatag ang Ebidensiya, mga Rekomendasyon laban sa ‘Systemic, Parasitic’ na Kasakiman sa Anomalya sa Flood Control
Lacson said these should help start addressing the flooding woes faced by Filipinos due to the negligence and greed of corrupt officials.
He lamented that Filipino families in more than 30 provinces with high and medium-high exposure to flooding “are sure to be flooded in months to come, at risk of losing their livelihoods and lives.”
In the meantime, he said the Philippines remains at the top of the World Risk Index 2025 among 193 countries worldwide as the most disaster-prone country due to high exposure to floods, typhoons, and other natural hazards – and stands to lose about US$89 billion between 2022 and 2050 due to floods and tropical storms.
“Gaano man katindi ang sikat ng araw, hindi nito matatabunan ang galit ng ating mga kababayan na nalulunod pa rin sa gitna ng kapabayaan at kasakiman sa salapi ng ilang tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno, sampu ng kanilang mga kasapakat na kontratista dulot ng flood control scam (The fierce heat of the summer cannot compare to the anger of our fellow Filipinos who continue to wallow in floods caused by the negligence and greed of corrupt officials and contractors),” he said.
Committee Findings:
Lacson said the findings of the committee showed:
* The flood control scandal stemmed not from a shortage of funds. “Instead, the scale of funding, coupled with weak internal controls and criminally complicit oversight, made the sector an attractive target for systematic plunder of the public treasury, effectively leaving our citizens exposed to a deluge of misery.”
* The anatomy of the flood control anomaly is inherently parasitic, characterized by a network of actors spanning the highest levels of authority. Such anatomy exploited an institutionalized workflow deeply entrenched within the bureaucracy, employing mechanisms so brazen and gross that they either compromise, recruit, and/or bypass oversight.
* The flood control mess represents the evolution of the pork barrel system. “In this scheme, corruption takes different forms and names: from congressional ‘slabs of pork’ now euphemistically rebranded as ‘allocables,’ ‘leadership funds,’ and ‘insertions’ — extending their reach even into the Unprogrammed Appropriations under the GAA,” he said.
* The corruption uncovered in the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office shows the blueprint for how flood control funds are diverted, revealing the interconnected systems that facilitate the corruption.
* The dire consequences of this institutionalized plunder “are not merely financial; they are felt in the structural erosion of our democratic institutions, the profound disenfranchisement of the Filipino people, and the tearing of the moral fiber of the country,” Lacson said.
Also, he said subsequent developments have reinforced the panel’s core findings:
* At least four key individuals who appeared before the Blue Ribbon hearings were admitted to the Witness Protection Program. These witnesses include former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former District Engineer Henry Alcantara, former NCR Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos;
* The executive branch ordered a comprehensive review of flood control programs nationwide, including the creation of inter-agency task forces, stricter validation protocols for infrastructure projects, and enhanced transparency measures in public works spending;
* The Office of the Ombudsman filed multiple criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan against former and incumbent public officials, contractors, and private individuals;
* Parallel investigations by the Department of Justice led to the creation of special panels of prosecutors tasked to handle at least five ghost flood control projects in Bulacan, with prosecutors recommending the filing of graft, malversation, perjury, and falsification charges after evaluating affidavits, audit findings, and sworn testimonies of engineers and whistleblowers. Several of these cases have already been submitted for resolution, while others remain under preliminary investigation.
* Proceedings are now underway before the Sandiganbayan, which has begun issuing orders on preliminary matters. The NBI has conducted fact-finding operations and case build-up that led to the filing of complaints against respondents linked to the flood control scheme. The Anti-Money Laundering Council complemented these efforts by initiating financial intelligence investigations and securing freeze orders from the Court of Appeals, with over PHP 21.8 billion in assets frozen as of April 30, 2026.
Budget-Related Proposals:
Lacson said the panel proposed the removal of “allocables” and “leadership funds” proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“This is a pork barrel incarnate and it clouds our fiscal transparency,” he said.
Second, he detailed proposals to enhance accountability and anti-corruption, including:
* Amendment of Republic Act No. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989);
* Defining Beneficial Ownership and Conflict of Interest so that no legislator can hide behind a corporate veil;
* Strict prohibition and higher penalties against government employees gambling in casinos;
* A law for the digitalization of Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth/Personal Data Sheet and a law for the comprehensive whistleblower protection measure to strengthen oversight of government projects.
* A law that will facilitate and support the withdrawal of COA auditors and their recall to the central home office from their auditee agencies to ensure independent and accountable reporting.
Menu of Possible Criminal Charges:
The committee report contains a “menu” for possible criminal charges that may be filed against those involved:
* Malversation under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, where the “accountable officer” as well as “co-conspirators” such as non-custodian public officers and private individuals may be held accountable for the diversion of funds, including ghost and substandard flood control projects;
* Direct bribery, bribe-giving and corruption under Revised Penal Code Article 210;
* Section 3 (a, b and e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019 covering kickbacks and commissions; undue injury o unwarranted benefits including from rigged biddings, favored suppliers, and manipulation of procurement services;
* Plunder under Republic Act 7080, with the evidence obtained to be submitted to the Anti-Money Laundering Council for verification and further action;
* Money Laundering (RA 9160) and AMLC Bank Inquiry/Freeze/Forfeiture, including bank deposit freeze order applications before the Court of Appeals, at the investigation of bank accounts based on the Court of Appeals’ orders;
* Falsification/false identities/procurement documents falsification;
* Perjury/false sworn statements/certifications under RPC Article 183;
* Bid rigging/collusion (RA 10667), procurement reform (RA 12009);
* Ethics/Conflict of Interest under RA 6713 and SALN and Divestment.
Further Scrutiny:
Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee, upon the resumption of its hearings, will scrutinize matters that need further scrutiny, including:
* A deeper investigation into allocables and leadership fund, including letters from lawmakers to study the paper trail in flood control projects;
* Formal invitations to former Speaker Martin Romualdez through the office of the Speaker, so he can give his side on the issue;
* Bringing ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – should he be returned to the Philippines – and his former staff, including former members of the military.
“Mr. President, the road to full accountability is long. But we must start to agree somewhere. This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits. We cannot let their efforts—and ours—go to waste, Mr. President,” Lacson said.
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Lacson Inilatag ang Ebidensiya, mga Rekomendasyon laban sa ‘Systemic, Parasitic’ na Kasakiman sa Anomalya sa Flood Control
Inilatag ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ang mahahalagang ebidensiya at mga rekomendasyong pampatakaran na nagmula sa hindi bababa sa pitong pagdinig, upang tuluyang mapigil ang “systematic and parasitic” na kasakiman sa likod ng mga maanomalyang flood control project—na inilarawan niyang pinakamalaking iskandalo ng korapsyon sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.
Ani Lacson, hindi niya layuning magsampa agad ng kaso o maglabas ng pinal na hatol, kundi magtakda ng pamantayan na makatutulong sa mga awtoridad sa pagsusuri ng mga natuklasan, pagtukoy ng probable cause, at pagsasagawa ng kinakailangang legal na aksyon.
“The road to full accountability is long. But we must start to agree somewhere. This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits. We cannot let their efforts—and ours—go to waste,” aniya sa kanyang privilege speech.
“Mr. President, this report is a referral-and-reform package. Simple lang: imbestigahan nang legal, alamin kung ano ang nangyari, bawiin ang kaya pang bawiin, at ayusin ang batas—para hindi doble bayad ang Pilipino: sa buwis at sa delubyo ng baha,” dagdag niya. “Kung mali ang alegasyon, the process clears them. Kung totoo, the process convicts — with due process and accountability – makukulong ang dapat makulong.”
Ayon kay Lacson, makatutulong ang mga hakbang na ito upang simulan ang pagtugon sa suliranin ng pagbaha na kinakaharap ng mga Pilipino dahil sa kapabayaan at kasakiman ng mga tiwaling opisyal.
Ikinabahala niya na ang mga pamilyang Pilipino sa mahigit 30 lalawigan na may mataas at katamtamang mataas na panganib sa pagbaha ay “tiyak na muling babahain sa mga susunod na buwan, at nanganganib mawalan ng kabuhayan at buhay.”
Samantala, nananatiling nangunguna ang Pilipinas sa World Risk Index 2025 sa 193 bansa bilang pinaka-disaster-prone na bansa dahil sa mataas na exposure sa baha, bagyo, at iba pang natural na panganib—at tinatayang mawawalan ng humigit-kumulang US$89 bilyon mula 2022 hanggang 2050 dahil sa mga pagbaha at bagyong tropikal.
“Gaano man katindi ang sikat ng araw, hindi nito matatabunan ang galit ng ating mga kababayan na nalulunod pa rin sa gitna ng kapabayaan at kasakiman sa salapi ng ilang tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno, sampu ng kanilang mga kasapakat na kontratista dulot ng flood control scam,” aniya.
Mga Natuklasan ng Komite:
Ayon kay Lacson, ipinakita ng mga natuklasan ng komite ang mga sumusunod:
* Ang iskandalo sa flood control ay hindi dulot ng kakulangan sa pondo. Sa halip, ang laki ng pondong inilaan, kasama ang mahihinang internal control at pakikipagsabwatan sa oversight, ang naging dahilan upang maging kaakit-akit ang sektor sa sistematikong pandarambong sa kaban ng bayan, na nag-iwan sa mamamayan na bulnerable sa matinding paghihirap.
* Ang estruktura ng anomalya sa flood control ay likas na parasitiko, na may network ng mga aktor mula sa pinakamataas na antas ng kapangyarihan. Ginamit nito ang nakagawiang proseso sa burukrasya at mga mekanismong tahasang nagkokompromiso, nagrerekrut, o lumalampas sa oversight.
* Ang problema sa flood control ay repleksyon ng ebolusyon ng pork barrel system. Sa paraang ito, nag-iiba lamang ng anyo at tawag ang korapsyon—mula sa mga “slabs of pork” na tinatawag na ngayong “allocables,” “leadership funds,” at “insertions,” na umaabot pa hanggang sa Unprogrammed Appropriations sa GAA.
* Ipinakita ng korapsyon sa Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office ang blueprint kung paano inililihis ang pondo sa flood control, at ang magkakaugnay na sistemang nagpapadali sa korapsyon.
* Ang malubhang epekto ng institusyonalisadong pandarambong ay hindi lamang pinansyal; nararamdaman din ito sa paghina ng mga institusyong demokratiko, pagkawala ng boses ng mamamayan, at pagkasira ng moral na hibla ng bansa.
Dagdag pa niya, pinagtibay ng mga sumunod na pangyayari ang mga pangunahing natuklasan ng komite:
* Hindi bababa sa apat na pangunahing indibidwal na humarap sa pagdinig ay isinailalim sa Witness Protection Program, kabilang sina dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, dating District Engineer Henry Alcantara, dating NCR Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, at kontratistang si Sally Santos;
* Inatasan ng ehekutibong sangay ang malawakang pagsusuri sa mga flood control program sa buong bansa, kabilang ang pagbuo ng inter-agency task forces, mas mahigpit na validation protocols, at mas mataas na transparency sa paggasta;
* Nagsampa ang Office of the Ombudsman ng ilang kasong kriminal sa Sandiganbayan laban sa mga dating at kasalukuyang opisyal, kontratista, at pribadong indibidwal;
* Ang imbestigasyon ng Department of Justice ay nagbunga ng pagbuo ng mga special panel ng prosecutors para sa hindi bababa sa limang ghost flood control projects sa Bulacan, na may rekomendasyong magsampa ng mga kasong graft, malversation, perjury, at falsification;
* Isinasagawa na ang mga pagdinig sa Sandiganbayan, habang nagsagawa ang NBI ng fact-finding at case build-up. Samantala, nagsagawa rin ng financial intelligence investigations ang Anti-Money Laundering Council, at nakapag-secure ng freeze orders mula sa Court of Appeals, kung saan mahigit PHP 21.8 bilyong halaga ng assets ang na-freeze hanggang Abril 30, 2026.
Mga Panukalang Kaugnay sa Badyet:
Iminungkahi ng komite ang pagtanggal ng “allocables” at “leadership funds” ng DPWH. “This is a pork barrel incarnate and it clouds our fiscal transparency,” ani Lacson.
Ikalawa, iminungkahi rin ang pagpapalakas ng accountability at anti-corruption measures, kabilang ang:
* Pag-amyenda sa Republic Act No. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989);
* Pagbibigay-linaw sa Beneficial Ownership at Conflict of Interest;
* Mahigpit na pagbabawal at mas mabigat na parusa sa pagsusugal ng mga kawani ng gobyerno sa mga casino;
* Digitalisasyon ng SALN at Personal Data Sheet at komprehensibong proteksyon para sa whistleblowers;
* Batas para sa mas independiyente at accountable na reporting ng COA auditors.
Mga Posibleng Kasong Kriminal:
Naglalaman ang ulat ng komite ng “menu” ng mga posibleng kasong kriminal, kabilang ang malversation, direct bribery, graft, plunder, money laundering, falsification, perjury, bid rigging, at mga paglabag sa ethics at conflict of interest laws.
Karagdagang Pagsusuri:
Sa muling pagbubukas ng mga pagdinig, tututukan ng komite ang mga sumusunod:
* Mas malalim na imbestigasyon sa allocables at leadership funds;
* Pag-anyaya kay dating Speaker Martin Romualdez upang magbigay ng kanyang panig;
* Pagpapaharap kay dating Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co at iba pang kaugnay na personalidad.
“Mr. President, the road to full accountability is long. But we must start to agree somewhere. This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits. We cannot let their efforts—and ours—go to waste, Mr. President,” giit ni Lacson.
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