Imee: Charges over flood control scam set to be filed vs high-profile lawmakers

National

CRIMINAL charges linked to the long-running flood control corruption scandal are expected to be filed within days against several high-profile lawmakers, according to Sen. Imee Marcos, who said she received information pointing to imminent action by prosecutors.

Marcos said complaints may be lodged by Jan. 15 against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and a number of sitting members of the House of Representatives.

In a report by Philstar, Marcos cited unnamed sources who allegedly confirmed the list of respondents tied to questionable flood control projects.

Also expected to be included, Marcos said, are CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap.

Previous Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings had already flagged alleged kickbacks received by Estrada, Villanueva and Revilla from anomalous or substandard flood control works.

Marcos noted that those named have long been preparing their legal defenses, but questioned why attention appeared focused largely on senators.

She expressed frustration that some House leaders, including former speaker Martin Romualdez, were not being similarly pursued despite testimony linking House-backed projects to alleged corruption.

She recalled earlier claims that key witness Orly Guteza would eventually withdraw statements implicating Romualdez and former party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co.

At the same time, Marcos acknowledged there was no direct evidence so far tying other current and former senators to so-called “ghost” flood control projects.

Her remarks drew sharp pushback from Senate leaders. Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson rejected accusations that the Blue Ribbon committee was shielding influential figures, calling Marcos’ claims baseless and unfair to the panel and its staff.

As political tensions simmered, the militant Makabayan bloc argued that Congress itself is ill-suited to police corruption tied to lawmakers’ own budget allocations.

The group warned that legislators cannot credibly oversee systems that directly benefit them, urging the public to remain vigilant in demanding accountability.

Reform proposals, however, gained traction in the House. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said digitalizing procurement and budget transactions could sharply reduce opportunities for corruption, stressing the need for public portals that allow citizens to track spending and flag irregularities.

Opposition Rep. Leila de Lima welcomed moves to create a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures, saying budget accountability should extend beyond passage of the General Appropriations Act.

Senate finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian defended the planned body, saying it has legal basis and could help prevent future scandals — not conceal them — by scrutinizing spending before and after funds are released.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)