Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday vowed full support for ongoing efforts to bring the long-running “flood control mess” to a “logical conclusion,” as the probe into alleged corruption in the implementation of flood mitigation projects advances toward potential criminal prosecution.
Lacson issued the statement after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) submitted several boxes of documentary evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman, recommending the filing of graft, plunder and bribery charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor,” Lacson said.
“But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion — the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” he added.
Lacson chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which has been looking into what he previously described as widespread, systemic corruption involving substandard or nonexistent flood control projects.
P100-B in contracts under scrutiny
Earlier today, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson personally delivered the evidence to the Ombudsman.
According to officials, the documents cover over P100 billion worth of flood control contracts awarded from 2016 to 2025 to Co-linked firms Sunwest Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp.
Singson said more records are expected from joint Philippine National Police and Armed Forces ground teams tasked with physically inspecting flood control sites flagged for irregularities.
Lacson’s two privilege speeches last August and September first laid out the alleged schemes behind the questionable projects — including “ghost” flood structures and substandard works — and linked them to entrenched corruption within the DPWH.
He also revealed accounts of some individuals allegedly gambling taxpayers’ money away in casinos.
Copies of those speeches, along with supporting documents, were turned over to the ICI and the Ombudsman to assist their investigations.
Lacson cautioned that the probe is far from over. Citing Singson’s initial estimates, he said as many as 15 individuals per ghost project — or roughly 1,200 persons across the 80 initially identified suspect projects — may ultimately face charges.
“I will extend my full support by providing the mandated investigating and prosecution agencies with whatever documents and other evidence we have,” Lacson said. “We can all help in making those involved answerable.”
He added that his office will continue to supplement the work of investigators with additional materials as they move closer to potential prosecutions.
“We can all help in making those involved answerable. I will augment such efforts with whatever documents or other pieces of evidence we have,” he stressed.