ASEANEWS HEADLINE | MANILA: 17 congressmen invited to Blue Ribbon hearing

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Philippines LIVE: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Investigates Flood Control Projects | Manila | Live

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Bonoan leaves for US

MANILA, Philippines — Regaining his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon committee, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is inviting members of the House of Representatives implicated in the flood control corruption scandal to attend the next hearing on the issue.

In a chance interview yesterday, Lacson said he has coursed the invitation through Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III for the 17 lawmakers mentioned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya in their affidavit.

Also invited are former speaker Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, earlier tagged in the alleged flood control kickbacks by former Marine and security consultant Orly Guteza.

Co, who is reportedly abroad, will have to attend the hearing via Zoom at a Philippine embassy or consulate, Lacson said.

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“It is all systems go,” he said, as he asked Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian not to schedule plenary deliberations on the 2026 budget on Friday to give way to the resumption of the Blue Ribbon investigation. Plenary deliberations begin today.

Lacson was reelected to the Blue Ribbon chairmanship during plenary session yesterday. He said a “very important” witness whom he declined to identify is still willing to testify and name names in the massive corruption scandal involving lawmakers, public works officials and private contractors. “It’s still a go as we speak at this very moment,” Lacson said, referring to the investigation.

In an interview over “Storycon” on One News yesterday, former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor said Guteza is still willing to testify before the Blue Ribbon committee.

“As far as I know, he is willing to attend the committee hearing,” Defensor said, noting that communication with Guteza remains indirect and only through a third party.

Guteza first appeared before the committee last Sept.25 – as “surprise witness” of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Defensor clarified that Guteza is not an active member of the Philippine Marines, contrary to earlier reports.

“We received straight denials from the Marines and the Armed Forces that he is with them. I really don’t know his exact location, but he mentioned that he is with his group – his classmates who are now retired,” he said.

The former lawmaker added that Guteza’s family has yet to receive an official subpoena from the Senate, but expects to receive one soon.

“His family said they haven’t received any official summons yet. Once the subpoena from the Senate comes, it will reach him,” Defensor said.

He also emphasized that Guteza approached him voluntarily to reveal what he knew about anomalies in flood control projects.

“He acted on his own conscience because he wanted to expose what was happening,” Defensor said, adding that Guteza remains firm in his decision despite fears for his family’s safety.

The former lawmaker also denied claims that politicians were behind Guteza’s disclosures, saying the whistleblower’s move was personal.

“He came to me on his own. I actually didn’t want to get involved, but he insisted,” he said.

“Let’s stick to the issue, the problem of organized corruption. This has no political color,” Defensor said.

The 17 House members mentioned by the Discaya couple are Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. Jojo Ang, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, Quezon city Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, Agap Rep. Nicanor Briones. Marikina Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes; Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr., An Waray Rep. Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela, Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco, Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Antonieta Yudela, Caloocan City Rep. Dean Asistio and Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar. The lawmakers have denied the allegation and vowed to sue the Discayas for libel.

Court cases filed within two weeks

As the Senate prepares to resume its investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman expects to file the first criminal cases with the Sandiganbayan within two weeks, initially against Co and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the case involving Co, contractor Sunwest Inc. and DPWH officials linked to an anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro has already been submitted for resolution and eventual filing with the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

The cases stemmed from the P289-million flood control project in Naujan, which was flagged as either substandard or non-existent.

“The first cases to be filed would be against Co and some officials of DPWH Region IV-B and Sunwest,” Remulla said.

He said the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are continuing parallel investigations on similar flood control projects, and vital information regarding the cases keep pouring in.

Also yesterday, the DOJ confirmed the departure of former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan for the US, reportedly to accompany his wife who is to undergo an unspecified medical procedure.

“Travel has been reported to be up until Dec. 17, 2025. Currently, there exists no legal prohibition to Bonoan’s constitutional right to travel,” DOJ spokesman Raphael Niccolo Martinez said in a statement.

Last September, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) recommended the filing of graft, malversation and falsification charges against Co and other DPWH officials over their links to the P289-million road dike project along Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The ICI flagged the project for being “grossly substandard and not in line with required specifications,” with steel sheet piles falling short of the required length indicated in the contract agreement.

Davao projects

Meanwhile, at least 10 flood control projects in Davao Region that formed part of the P51-billion allocation for the city’s first district have been discovered to be “ghost and problematic” by a House committee.

This was revealed by Rep. Terry Ridon, co-chairman of the chamber’s infrastructure committee, in a power point presentation to journalists.

“So, just like in Bulacan where it was very clear that there were ghost projects, I think the ICI had every reason to inspect and investigate from the district engineers’ office in these areas on what really happened to these projects,” Ridon said.

“These are not 2025 projects, but these were 2021, 2022 and 2023 projects that are all incomplete. In fact, in less than two years some of the projects were already severely damaged,” Ridon said, noting that some projects had been undertaken by Timothy Corp. of the Discaya couple.

“Some were never started,” he added.

He acknowledged that flood mitigation projects were in the home city of former president Duterte and under the first district area of his congressman-son Paolo, who admitted receiving a total of P51 billion from 2020 to 2022.

If the epicenter of ghost flood control projects in Luzon is Bulacan, then the epicenter of ghost flood control projects in Mindanao is in Davao Occidental where the DPWH reported ‘no structure projects,’” Ridon said. — Daphne Galvez, Mark Ernest Villeza, Rudy santos, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan