CHIZ TO CONTRACTORS: ATTEND SENATE FLOOD CONTROL PROBE OR FACE ARREST

admin August 27, 2025

SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero has advised contractors who are being linked to questionable flood control projects to attend the public hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is looking into allegations of graft and corruption that tainted the projects funded by multibillion pesos in people’s money.

The Senate leader said he has signed all the subpoenas requested by the Blue Ribbon Committee, for officials of the construction companies, to attend the next scheduled hearing on September 1.

“Napirmahan na yun last week pa. Lahat ng hiniling ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa pamumuno ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta ay pinirmahan ko last week. So, inaasahan namin mase-serve yun sa loob ng linggong ito in time for the hearing next week,” Escudero said.

According to the veteran legislator, the subpoenas will be served within the week and he expects the contractors concerned to show up at the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation.

“Kinakailangan bigyang linaw nila ang bagay na ito at kung hindi nila susundin ang subpoena ng Senado, ang susunod na doon ay arrest warrant na hindi ako mag-aatubili na pirmahan,” he said.

The Senate President said he is just as interested as the entire nation in finding out the details of the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects, particularly those that were funded but never undertaken.“

Marapat at dapat lamang na tignan at suruiin ‘yan dahil kung naglilipana ngayon ang kaliwa’t kanan na akusasyon . . . ay marapat at dapat naman talagang . . . imbestigahan at parusahan kung sino man ang nasa likod nun,” he said.

Apart from uncovering the truth behind the flood control project anomalies, the Senate President also wants to address the longstanding issue of conflict of interest of people in government who also serve as contractors for public projects.

To address this, the Senate leader has filed Senate Bill No. 783 seeking to disqualify relatives of public officials within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity from entering into any government contract.

By banning public officials and their relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from doing business with government, the Senate President said potential avenues for corruption will be eliminated involving public funds.