Minority senators issue report on flood control scandal

Several members of the Senate minority bloc have signed a report regarding the anomalies in flood control projects, detailing findings and observations based on the previous hearings conducted by the blue ribbon committee.

Senators Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta said the report—which was signed by six out of nine members of the minority bloc—-was submitted to the office of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on December 10, 2025. 

“Gusto ko sabihin at idiin na lubos ako sumasang-ayon dito sa minority report na malinaw nitong punto na ang pananagutan ay hindi dapat nakatuon lamang sa implementing agencies, sa iba't ibang kontratista, sa kung sino-sino lamang,” Marcos said in a press conference. 

(I want to emphasize that I fully agree with the minority report which clearly pointed out that accountability should not be focused only on implementing agencies, on contractors, on just anyone.) 

“Tama ang diin ng report na ang tanging isang komprehensibo, patas, walang takot na imbestigasyon lang ang makakatiyak na tunay na salarin, ‘yung mga mastermind ang dapat managot,” she added. 

(The report rightly said that only a comprehensive, fair, and fearless investigation can ensure that the real culprits and the masterminds will be held accountable.)

Aside from Marcos and Marcoleta, the report was signed by Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, and Robin Padilla. 

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, as well as Senators Joel Villanueva and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, did not sign the report. 

In the 103-page report, excluding annexes, several politicians, including former speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, as well as Senators Escudero, Estrada, and Villanueva, were listed as among those implicated in the flood control mess. 

Other former and incumbent House members, and former senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay were also mentioned. 

The report, however, stressed that the allegations against Escudero, Estrada, and Binay could be considered as hearsay unless supported by object evidence and corroborative statements from other witnesses.

As for Romualdez, it was noted that the former speaker is liable for the controversy. 

“As the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, he cannot simply absolve himself from any accountability in all that is happening — either he was complicit with the crooks or was grossly negligent in his job. In both cases, he remains liable either way,” the report read. 

The minority senators also pointed out that Co’s participation “is undeniably vital and crucial” given his position as the former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“The damning revelations of resigned Rep. Zaldy Co, a key player in the vicious looting of the national treasury, did not come as a surprise. His running exposé made in calculated installments sprouted in social media the moment former Speaker Martin Romualdez appeared before the ICI with his affidavit that left Co fending for himself — rendering him the unwilling whipping boy,” the report read. 

It was also indicated that the politicians allegedly involved may face violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Revised Penal Code, Anti-Plunder Act, Presidential Decree No. 1759, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. 

The minority thus called for the immediate and impartial prosecution of the people involved. 

“In view of the extensive evidence presented during the course of the hearings, and the recent filing of cases against the officials and personalities directly implicated in these anomalous flood-control projects and flagrant misuse of public funds, the Minority therefore calls for the immediate, impartial, and speedy prosecution of these individuals in order to hold them liable for their irreprehensible abuse of the people’s money,” the report added.

GMA News Online reached out to Romualdez for comment and will publish it once available.

The report also listed other implicated Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, as well as other government officials and private entities whose level of involvement in the controversy should be looked into. 

Dead end?

The report also mentioned that the Blue Ribbon Committee appears to have hit a dead end, with its current chairman, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, disputing Co’s claims. 

“Meanwhile, the ICI is headed to nowhere with its members resigning for lack of clarity and direction,” the report said.

“It now appears that the Ombudsman will take all the cudgels in prosecuting the national infamy. Is he up to the responsibility considering that he himself has recently grasped for reeds in struggling to affirm the ‘bend the law’ proposition? The people are frustratingly watching,” the report added. 

Based on the letter of Marcoleta—former chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee—to Sotto, the report was based on the hearings conducted by the panel on August 19, September 1, 8, 18, 23, and 25. 

Marcoleta said that when he was chairing the committee, he had begun preparing an initial framework of findings and observations based on the testimonies, documents, and statements placed on record. 

“In this regard, we respectfully endorse the enclosed report to your office for possible inclusion, or at least, consideration, in the preparation of the Committee Report. It is our earnest hope that this Minority Report may assist the Senate in ensuring accountability, strengthening oversight, and safeguarding the integrity of our public infrastructure programs,” Marcoleta said in the letter. 

‘Piece of paper’

Sotto, meanwhile, said that the so-called minority report is just a “piece of paper” unless it is taken up during the plenary session. 

“A minority report is submitted after the Committee report of the mother committee has been submitted. Otherwise, it’s a piece of paper or, unless, the report pertains to the two days that was conducted by the previous chairman,” the Senate President said. 

“Then it is not called a minority report. It is simply a report on the said dates. Also, a report unless taken up in plenary is simply an unofficial report,” he added. 

Sotto also said that he does not recall receiving such a report in December last year. 

He then clarified that when his office received the report from Marcoleta’s office, it was forwarded to the Blue Ribbon Committee, being the proper venue to submit all documents relating to the ongoing hearing on the flood control mess. 

“If it has been submitted to my office, it means unofficial. Kasi dapat, magsusubmit ang minority report sa, pagtapos ng committee report, isasubmit yun sa Bills and Index, hindi sa amin. Ang tatagal na nilang beterano. Ang tagal na nilang legislator. Bakit sa Senate President's Office ipapadala?” 

(If it has been submitted to my office, it means it’s unofficial. Since the committee report is finished, the minority report should be submitted to the Bills and Index, not to my office. They are veterans. They have been legislators for a long time. Why would they send it to the Senate President's Office?) —KG/RF, GMA Integrated News