Flood control contractors, DPWH officials watch as lawmakers butt heads in probe

MANILA, Philippines — The House probe into anomalous flood control projects kicked off on rugged terrain. It was bogged down by legislators bickering and talking over each other, triggered by motion technicalities and raised concerns of the alleged congressional insertions for flood control projects in the 2025 national budget.  

In total, the panel's interrogation of government contractors and public works employees was stalled four times. 

One of the first motions raised at the House Infra Committee on Tuesday, September 2, was by Rep. Chel Diokno (Akbayan Party-list) who sought to ensure that no lawmaker in the legislative inquiry has any conflict of interest, especially as some members of Congress have ties with contractors of flood control projects. 

He specifically moved to require all members of the three-committee panel to "make a full disclosure of their financial, business or pecuniary interest" in relation to past and present flood control projects. 

While his motion was eventually seconded and carried by the joint panel, other lawmakers expressed their reservations.

Motion to adjourn?

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said she is worried that the "oversight powers of Congress will be clipped in the guise of conflict of interest."

She further argued it would be better to allow the independent and third-party investigation to proceed to further uncover the alleged system of corruption among government officials.  

"Let us not forget that we cannot just sit and be taken out that we are the voice of our people and we need to correct the system," she said.  

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, meanwhile, said that House lawmakers deemed to have a "conflict of interest" with the probe could undergo the interdisciplinary measures of the ethics committee. 

"But that should not preclude us to exercise our constitutional given mandate, which is to exercise our oversight functions and pass legislation that would correct the lapses and loopholes in our existing laws," he added. 

Rep. Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) backed Diokno's motion, explaining that the minority lawmaker is not opposed to the probe but is only asking that a full disclosure be done by participating members of the committee.

Diokno's motion, however, somehow found itself in a debate on the technicalities. Rep. Isidro Ungab (Davao, 3rd District) said it was a point of order, which Garin later clarified was amended by Diokno himself to be a motion by the time Ungab thought it was a point of order. 

The motion was then approved and met with confusion by some lawmakers who questioned how the full disclosure will be carried.

"How do we go about it? Will there be a written disclosure?" Rep. Wowo Fortes (Sorsogon, 2nd District) asked. 

Without letting Chair Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list) respond, Erice all of a sudden moved to adjourn the committee hearing. Ridon was forced to suspend the session to allow lawmakers to clear the air and attempt to set a better direction for the probe.  

After the suspension, Erice withdrew his motion. Ridon then clarified that a member will be required to submit a written disclosure stating that their participation will not involve any conflict of interest. 

Motion to invite Elizaldy Co, Grace Poe

It seemed like the committee had gotten through its first hurdle, but when interpellations began and Erice questioned former Department of Works and Public Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan about the flood control budget insertions, they were met with another.  

"I would like to move, in order to clear up things and clarify matters, we should invite the chairman of the committee on appropriations of the 19th Congress [and the chairman of the Senate finance committee], Congressman Zaldy Co and former Senator Grace Poe," he said.  

Erice explained his motion, suggesting it would be better to invite them to the House inquiry to clearly understand how P100 billion in public funds was allegedly realigned to flood control projects as mentioned by Bonoan.  

Ungab, who wanted to second the motion, raised his voice to explain how he has long been flagging the 2025 budget, shouting that this year's budget is "the most corrupt budget." 

Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante (Manila, 6th District) followed with his objection, saying it is unclear whether Co and Poe would serve as resource persons or as members of Congress. Garin immediately moved to suspend, while Ungab pressed that Erice's pending motion must be addressed first. 

After another suspension, lawmakers continued arguing with each other instead of proceeding to question their invited resource persons, which were the top flood control contractors and DPWH employees. 

Garin, who circled back to her earlier argument, said that "the focus of our investigation is to nip the bud, putulin ang ugat, para hindi na ulit tumubo." 

She explained that colleagues within the lower chamber can simply be invited to attend the hearing without a motion, especially since Co is not a member of the House Infra Committee. "If there are cases, let cases be filed to the personality," she added.  

Tiangco's flash drive of claims

Rep. Toby Tiangco (Navotas, Lone District) then contended that if a congressman cannot be a resource person, then they would be exempted. How else would they be investigated, he asked. He then pulled out a flash drive, which he claimed contained how Co made the budget insertions.

Garin tried to clarify that she was not against inviting Co, but Tiangco did not let her by repeatedly talking over her saying, "I have the floor." And then the hearing was suspended again. 

When the hearing resumed, Ridon clarified the committee's agenda, to which led to Erice deferring his motion to invite Co and Poe for another time.

After such, Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) expressed her agreement with Erice's argument that only Co and Poe would know best how any insertion was made. 

Wasting time? 

It was only at this point that interpellation resumed, but it was also quickly interrupted once again but by Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta (SAGIP Party-list).

In the middle of Garin's line of questioning with the DPWH, Marcoleta raised a point of order because he found her questions a repeat of what Erice earlier asked in relation to how the flood control projects are listed in the proposed budget.

This angered Garin, confounded by how she violated any rule. "Sayang ang oras na hinihinto natin ang imbestigasyon na ito.... Ano ba ang kinakatakutan ni Congressman Marcoleta sa mga katanungan po?" 

(Our time is being wasted as we interrupt the investigation. ... What about my questioning is Congressman Marcoleta afraid of?) 

Marcoleta said he has no problem, but argued that if the premise has already been set earlier, why the need to repeat it. 

Finally, the committee proceeded with questioning the DPWH's oversight and implementation of flood control projects. 

The House Infra Comm invited 16 government contractors of flood control projects, but only 11 were present. The remaining five, which included businesswoman Sarah Discaya who has ties with multiple construction firms, will be issued a subpoena to attend the next hearing. 

The lower chamber's probe is a parallel to the Senate blue ribbon committee's probe into failed and nonexistent flood control projects.