Minority senators push flood control reforms

MINORITY SENATORS on Tuesday called for structural reforms to curb corruption and inefficiency as the government continues its investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

In a 576-page report released to reporters, the Senate minority bloc highlighted loopholes and lapses in state processes that allowed anomalous flood control projects to slip through.

“These reforms would prevent the inclusion of ‘ghost’ or fabricated projects in the National Expenditure Plan and curb politically motivated budget allocations disconnected from verified flood risks,” according to the report.

The report was signed by Senators Rodante D. Marcoleta, Maria Imelda R. Marcos, Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Ronald M. dela Rosa, Robinhood C. Padilla and Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada.

Among the recommendations is the creation of a National Flood Management Framework to ensure flood control spending is geographically rationalized, technically sound and nationally coordinated.

The senators also called for stricter blacklisting and suspension mechanisms for erring contractors, including penalties for affiliates and beneficial owners.

“To prevent fragmentation of major flood control systems into multiple contracts designed to evade bidding thresholds, the law should strengthen the prohibition on contract splitting and ban multiple affiliated corporations from bidding on contiguous or functionally connected projects,” they said.

The minority bloc also proposed reforms to performance bond requirements, enforcing stricter rules and higher penalties for unjustified delays or defective outputs, particularly in flood-prone areas.

They also recommended amending the Government Auditing Code to penalize the refusal to submit documents, concealment of records and destruction of audit evidence.

“The minority observed that the lack of effective post-implementation monitoring and auditing has allowed fraudulent projects to escape detection,” they said.

The senators called for the immediate, impartial prosecution of lawmakers and officials implicated in the scandal. 

The report singled out former Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, saying he remains liable for either complicity or gross negligence in his role as Speaker.

“As the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, he cannot simply absolve himself from accountability — either he was complicit with the crooks or grossly negligent in his job,” according to the report.

Ex-Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co was also cited for his role in pushing several budget insertions. Allegations earlier surfaced that his former security aide had delivered bags of money to the former Speaker under Mr. Co’s orders. Both Mr. Co and Mr. Romualdez have denied the claims.

The report noted that evidence against Senators Francis G. Escudero and Mr. Estrada remains unsubstantiated despite testimonies during Senate hearings.

The Blue Ribbon Committee has been investigating anomalous flood control projects since August, and testimonies and documents have been used to file charges against officials and lawmakers allegedly involved in the scandal. — Adrian H. Halili