Bong Revilla's Bulacan flood control project in 2025 budget upon Cabral's order

The P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan was included in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, with then senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr as proponent, upon the instructions of the late Public Works and Highways undersecretary Cathy Cabral, a witness told Sandiganbayan Tuesday.

Engr. Peter Cortez, chief of the Programming Division of the DPWH Central Office’s Planning Service, made the testimony during the bail hearing on the malversation case filed against Revilla and six others in connection with the Bulacan flood control project.

Cortez said the P92.8-million project was part of the errata that the DPWH submitted to the House of Representatives in September 2024.

“Usec Cabral is the only one na nag-iinstruct sa amin,” Cortez said when asked by the Sandiganbayan justices on who identified Revilla as a project proponent.

(Usec Cabral is the only one who gave us instructions.) 

He said Revilla’s name as project proponent and the Pandi project was entered into the database on Cabral’s verbal instruction.

“I am sure, Sir. May instruction po ‘yun (There was really an instruction from Cabral),” Cortez said.

He explained that the submission of errata or corrections is allowed before the House approves the proposed national budget on third and final reading.

Further, Cortez said the errata that contained the Pandi project identifying Revilla as project proponent was signed by Cabral and then Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and that lawmakers proposing or requesting funding for the project.

He further said the House eventually adopted the errata or budget amendment that included the Pandi, Bulacan project. This was carried until the 2025 national budget was signed into law.

Cabral was found dead in Benguet province last December 2025 amid ongoing investigations into anomalous government flood control projects. —AOL, GMA News