Cover-up

By Artchil B. Fernandez

A Pandora’s box of corruption at the highest level of government was opened in the flood control projects scandal. Its opening released an avalanche of information on how corrupt politicians, in cahoots with crooks in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and greedy contractors, stole hundreds of billions in public funds. The flood control projects turned out to be either substandard or ghost (nonexistent).

Among the principals involved in the biggest corruption scam in the history of the country are legislators who inserted items in the national budget amounting to hundreds of billions of pesos, the bulk of the funds ending up in their pockets. Former Senate President Chiz Escudero, for example, is accused of inserting 142.7 billion in the 2025 national budget, 35.1 billion of which was allocated to flood control projects. Legislators from both houses of Congress also made similar insertions.

Many congressmen/women and senators are tainted in the flood control projects scam. As the investigations on the scandal deepen, names of these legislators are revealed and exposed to the public. The involvement of many legislators in the massive theft of public funds fueled the rage of Filipinos who are now demanding that the culprits be punished for their insatiable greed.

When the flood control projects rip-off was exposed, Congress immediately conducted hearings to appease public fury. It was also used by some of them to serve their political agenda, especially to discredit their political rivals. But as the investigations progress, they are becoming too hot for both houses of Congress to handle.

The investigations revealed that legislators from different political blocs have taken part in the biggest theft of people’s money. Politicians, whether Team Kadiliman or Team Kasamaan, had engaged in the flood control projects scam. They are now trying to duck and seek cover. The House was the first to halt its investigation when many of its members were named by DPWH officials and contractors as those behind the scam. Now it’s the turn of the Senate to turn off the heat after current and previous senators were mentioned in the hearings, including juicy details of their involvement.

Senate investigation on the flood control project mess is not only suspended, but the chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Ping Lacson, was forced to resign. Many senators feared their name would come out next or their complicity in the scam would be exposed. Senate investigation on the scandal is also threatening the fragile and shaky hold of the recently constituted Senate majority. A new Senate coup is brewing.

Sen. JV Ejercito publicly admitted he is unhappy with the current direction of Senate investigation on the flood control project scam. He is contemplating leaving the majority. “It’s like we’re burning down our own house,” Ejercito confessed.

Senators as well the representatives are trying to save their own skin. From the start, the public are suspicious and skeptical of these investigations of the legislators. The legislators will not crucify themselves. Recent development in the Senate confirmed the suspicion of Filipinos. To preserve the new Senate majority, public interest has to take a back seat. Political survival takes precedence over duty and public service. It’s self-service first. Legislators are trying to cover up their tracks and hide their complicity.

While the Senate leadership assured the public that investigation will continue in the future, it will be nothing but protection for senators who drank from the dirty cup of corruption in the flood control scam. A cover-up is in the offing. The senators are politicians first before they are public servants. Self-preservation is paramount to them.

It is quite clear where the direction of the Senate and the House is headed. They will cover up their involvement in the flood control scam. When public anger cools down the legislators will continue to do what they excel best – rob and raid the national coffers.

Institutional trust is breaking down. Filipinos no longer trust institutions like the House and the Senate to serve the people. How the House and the Senate handled the flood control projects investigations only confirmed public distrust on them and affirmed that Filipinos are right in doubting them. Politicians right now are the foulest creatures in the eyes of Filipinos. They are reeking with corruption – sly, greedy, and wicked.

When the magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit northern Cebu last week, Filipinos with good heart rushed to bring aid to the victims. None of them handed their help to government units headed by politicians. They feared the politicians will steal the aid to earthquake victims. This alone speaks volumes of public esteem of politicians.

Flood control projects scam had also taken a heavy toll on the country. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reported that the stock market lost P1.7 trillion in just three weeks due to corruption tied to anomalous flood control projects. The scandal led to erosion of public trust in government and its institutions like Congress.

“It’s a stark reminder that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction,” SEC Chair Francis Lim said during his speech at the annual conference of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex). “When trust breaks down, capital dries up, and everyone – government, business and the public – pays the price,” he added.

Instead of restoring public trust, the senators have destroyed whatever is left of their credibility when they prioritized protecting themselves from the fall-out of the flood control projects anomalies. Rather than uncover the truth behind the scam, covering up their involvement is the main concern of the senators.

With legislators especially senators evading accountability, it is up to the Filipino people to keep the pressure and ensure that the guilty in the flood control project scandal are punished. Massive theft of public funds will not end unless the culprits go to prison.