Like past pork scandals: P1.7-T flood scam unsolved
Majority of Senate Blue Ribbon committee members won’t sign its report on the P1.7-trillion flood works scam.
Why? Because the 470 pages incriminate four of their colleagues.
“Political loyalty to friends,” BRC chairman Ping Lacson laments.
There’s another term for it: “Honor among thieves.”
LanGeek defines it: “Even dishonest persons follow a strict code of ethics, loyalty and fairness toward one another, while behaving unethically toward outsiders. Criminals, despite their wrongdoing, may maintain trust, refuse to betray partners, keep promises to each other.”
Lacson sees no point in continuing the flood works inquiry. His BRC majority is co-opted. This comes amid three related developments:
• President Bongbong Marcos announced the arrest in Prague of fugitive ex-congressman Zaldy Co but downplayed reports that his son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and cousin, ex-Speaker Martin Romualdez, received the highest flood works budgets – P15.8 billion and P14.4 billion, respectively – in 2023-2025;
• Videos resurfaced of president Rody Duterte denouncing on Nov. 6, 2020 DPWH regional directors for ghost projects which he vowed to stop – but never did;
• Construction resumed full blast of resigned congressman Edvic Yap’s 2,550-square meter mansion in Ayala Heights, Quezon City despite court freeze of his and brother Rep. Eric Yap’s P16-billion real properties, 300 bank accounts, 22 insurance policies, eight aircraft and companies. (April 20, 2026 video submitted to ombudsman).
The senators who won’t condemn their own are listed below. It’s timely for them to not sign. The effects of Middle East war distract Filipinos from demanding accountability. Fuel and food prices are soaring. Middle-income earners are busy filing tax returns by the May 15 extended deadline.
Filipinos never get justice. The political elite’s plunder of flood funds will remain unsolved. None will be held responsible. Recall the Filipino story:
• Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Imelda Romualdez stole $10 billion in 1965-1986. The Supreme Court confirmed this in landmark decisions in 2003 and 2012. The government has recovered P174 billion and is after P125 billion more. Marcos Sr. died in Hawaii self-exile. Imelda has not spent a single day in jail. Neither have their business cronies.
• While on trial for P3.2-billion secret deposits under alias Jose Velarde, Joseph Estrada was detained for six years in his hilltop vacation house. Soon after 2007 conviction, successor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him. He returned to politics as mayor of Manila. Son Jinggoy Estrada, co-accused in P130-million tobacco tax theft, wangled bail in 2003 and acquittal in 2007. He became senator starting 2004.
• GMA was detained at a government hospital while on trial for P366-million plunder of sweepstakes funds. The court acquitted her in 2016. Before that, the Senate investigated her for the $329.5-million National Broadband Network-ZTE scam. Whistleblowers attested to a $10-million bribe to Filipino officials upon her signing of the deal in Boao, China on April 21, 2007. The Senate cleared her.
• First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was accused in 2003 of P321-million money laundering via alias Jose Pidal bank account for GMA’s 1998 VP run. Also, of attempting to sell to PNP for P105 million in 2009 three six-year-old helicopters labeled as brand new. Four police generals were convicted and 14 lower officers dismissed. Arroyo’s younger brother Rep. Ignacio Arroyo took the rap and died soon afterwards.
• In 2004 Malacañang doled P728 million in ghost fertilizers to 105 congressmen, 53 governors and 26 town mayors – even in urbanized districts. Only two mayors, eight subordinates and two agriculture regional directors were convicted. None served jail time. GMA was never charged. After her presidency, she became congresswoman and Speaker.
• In 2007, Malacañang diverted P900-million Malampaya gas field revenues to Dept. of Agrarian Reform onto bogus NGOs. Again GMA was never charged. Budget Sec. Rolando Andaya and DAR chief Nasser Pangandaman were absolved. Only Janet Lim-Napoles was convicted for NGO fakery. Andaya died in June 2022 after losing election. Pangandaman is now Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehab.
• In 2013, 20 senators and 100 congressmen pocketed P10-billion pork barrels. Three senators were indicted, then acquitted: Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile.
• In 2019 the Energy Department gave away $545-million Chevron stake in Malampaya to Duterte crony Dennis Uy’s firm with only $100 capital. That company now rakes in $1.15 million or P66.7 million a day, money that should go to state-owned Philippine National Oil Company. Sec. Al Cusi, vice chairman of Duterte’s PDP-Laban, was indicted only in August 2025.
• Also in 2019, Duterte’s budget chief Ben Diokno parked P71-billion flood funds with selected lawmakers. Of that, P2.4 billion was for then-Speaker GMA and P1.9 billion for then-House majority leader Andaya. In 2019-2022 presidential son Rep. Paolo Duterte received P52-billion flood funds. In 2022 BBM made Diokno finance head, then Monetary Board member.
• In 2020-2021 DBM purchased P65.19-billion fake and faulty pandemic supplies, of which P10.85 billion went to Pharmally of Presidential Special Economic Adviser Michael Yang.
• In 2024 Finance Sec. Ralph Recto diverted P60 billion from PhilHealth and P107 billion from PDSP to flood works. The Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. BBM promoted Recto to executive secretary.
• BBM, as Marcos estate administrator, refuses to pay P205 billion in estate taxes. As President, he appoints the BIR chief.
Senate BRC recommends charges against Senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and ex-senator Bong Revilla.
Nine signatures of 17 members are needed to approve it. Only four signed: Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo. Senate President Tito Sotto and Pro-Tempore Lacson signed as ex-officio.
Copouts: Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar. Estrada and Villanueva are members too.
They already hint at how they will try impeached Sara Duterte.
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