Senate Blue Ribbon sets probe on flood control corruption

MANILA, Philippines — The chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee is launching a motu proprio investigation on substandard and graft-tainted flood control projects earlier flagged by President Marcos.

The investigation, to begin on Tuesday, is Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s first as chairman of the committee.

The inquiry in aid of legislation is called “The Philippines Under Water,” according to the Blue Ribbon notice of organizational meeting and initial public hearing.

“On Tuesday I will begin the Blue Ribbon investigation on flood control. It will be quite challenging, considering the enormous problem we’re facing here,” Marcoleta said in a statement in Filipino.

“But I believe we can investigate. With the cooperation of the people, we can identify those responsible here,” he said.

Marcoleta called on the public to help the Senate investigate by filing complaints against those responsible for substandard or anomalous projects in their jurisdictions.

Following the controversy, the flood control budget was slashed by P71.7 billion from P346.6 billion in the current budget to P274.9 billion proposed in the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

The cut was made after the President – at a press conference – bared the extent of possible corruption in flood control infrastructure projects, where 15 contractors cornered 20 percent of P545 billion worth of contracts since 2022.

In a dwIZ interview yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III welcomed the coming Blue Ribbon committee probe. — Neil Jayson Servallos