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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate blue ribbon panel grants protection to SYMS contractor

Senate blue ribbon panel grants protection to SYMS contractor

Published Sep 18, 2025 06:09 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon panel agreed to grant her request but on the condition that she will provide honest answers both orally and in writing.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, September 18 granted protection to SYMS Construction Trading owner Sally Santos appealed for it during the resumption of its investigation into the anomalies in flood control projects.

This after Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito noted how Santos was hesitant to answer senators’ questions regarding her earlier claim that contractors in the district are used to borrowing licenses to participate in government projects.

Ejercito had asked Santos to name the contractors she lent her license to aside from Wawao Builders whom she identified in the previous inquiry.

But before she answered, Santos paused before responding and asked the Senate to provide her protective custody because she fears for her and her family’s safety.

“Natatakot po ako kasi may mga umiikot po sa bahay namin na sasakyan hindi ko po kilala, naano rin po ako sa pamilya ko na madamay po dito (I'm scared because there are people driving around our house in cars I don't know, how can I and my family be involved in this),” Santos told senators.

“Marami kasing umiikot sa bahay namin halos hindi na rin po ako nakakatulog nag-aalala ako sa pamilya ko kaya kinakabahan ako(There are so many people driving around our house I can hardly sleep anymore I'm worried about my family so I'm nervous),” she explained.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon panel then agreed to grant her request but on the condition that she will provide honest answers both orally and in writing.

Lacson warned Santos that the Senate will immediately withdraw its protection if she lies.

When Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked her whom she believed would hurt her and her family, Santos named former Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez and construction division chief Jaypee Mendoza.

Both former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials have been cited for contemtp by the Senate blue ribbon panel.

Related Tags

flood control probe ping lacson Senate Blue Ribbon
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