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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Best Christmas gift for Pinoys is sending flood control projects mess culprits to jail--Bam Aquino

Best Christmas gift for Pinoys is sending flood control projects mess culprits to jail--Bam Aquino

Published Oct 19, 2025 07:58 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Bam Aquino says that the "best Christmas gift" Filipinos can receive this year is a semblance of action against those involved in the massive flood control projects corruption scandal.
Senator Bam Aquino (Facebook)
Senator Bam Aquino (Facebook)


Senator Bam Aquino says that the "best Christmas gift" Filipinos can receive this year is a semblance of action against those involved in the massive flood control projects corruption scandal.
“It's time for action, and the onus is on the government to act on the evidence, to act on the cases. Iyon ang hinahanap ng tao ngayon (That’s what the people are looking for right now),” Aquino said in a statement Sunday, Oct. 19.
“The best Christmas gift for people is may mga cases na mapa-file at may makukulong (The best Christmas gift for people is to have cases filed and individuals jailed),” he added.
Aside from the filing of cases against those involved, Aquino said the government must also ensure the recovery of public funds and the implementation of systemic reforms that will eventually eliminate corruption in the budget system.
“We need to see people jailed. Kailangang mabalik ang pera. But we need to see some systems put in. So this is a system, live streaming the bicam and putting the documents online. That's a systemic change,” Aquino pointed out.
According to the senator, ordinary Filipinos have approached him recently to express their disgust over the corruption scandal as well as their sheer desire to see results from the investigation.
Aquino said he he was approached by an airport shuttle bus driver during his recent trip to Naga City. The latter asked him to pursue the probe into the anomalous flood control projects involving billions of pesos in public funds.
"The next day, doon sa public schools, iyong teachers said the same thing. "Senator, iyong investigations huwag niyo pong pakawalan. Ikulong niyo iyan. Alam mong galit ang tao,” he said.
(Senator, don't drop the investigation. Jail them. You know that the people are angry.)
Aquino said that the ball is now on the government’s court, as it should act on the evidence presented and make those behind the anomalies accountable.
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