The Sente Blue Ribbon Committee will resume its investigation into the anomalies surrounding the government’s  flood control project on Jan. 19, 2026, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said.

UST condemns corruption in flood control projects in the Philippines, urging transparency, accountability, and swift action to protect flood-prone communities. (MARK BALMORES /MANILA BULLETIN / file)

Lacson, in an interview on Sunday, January 11 said the committee will subpoena personalities it already invited before but did not show up during the hearing; these include:

former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and Meynard Ngu - as well as former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.

If they still refuse to attend, Lacson said he will recommend to the Senate President the issuance of warrants for their arrest.

“Olaivar and company were invited but did not show up. We already subpoenaed them. If they still won't show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest,” Lacson said in a Radio DZBB interview.

Moreover, the blue ribbon committee chief said he wants to clarify with the Budget Department and Office of the Executive Secretary how a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that allowed the release of P50-billion from the unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the budget was released on Dec. 27, 2024.

Also, the committee may invite Rep. Leandro Legarda-Leviste, coursed through the House leadership, if Leviste agrees, to appear before the Senate hearing. It was Leviste who claimed receiving the documents from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral saying that it allegedly contained the list of projects and funds assigned to different legislative districts between 2023 to 2026 and is now known as the “Cabral files.”

According to the senator, there are similarities between the documents Leviste has made public, and those that he has, but said he has yet to see the "SAP" and "OP" Leviste referred to.

When asked if the "Cabral files" would be enough basis to file cases against Cabinet members, he said the documents must be authenticated by the DPWH first.

Double whammy

Nevertheless, Lacson warned that a double whammy may await former DPWH officials if they recant their sworn statements related to the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.

The senator reminded that they will not only face sanctions for perjury, but their recantation will fail to weaken the cases being built against those involved.

“If they will recant, they may be liable for violating the law on perjury, Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, which raises the penalty for perjury to up to 12 years,” he said.

“This is aside from a penalty of P1-million and perpetual absolute disqualification if the offender is a government official,” he stressed.

But even if the DPWH officials involved recant their statements, Lacson said this will not influence the investigation into the flood control scandal as circumstantial or documentary evidence such as items in the budget books linking personalities—including lawmakers—to the mess had already been bared in previous Blue Ribbon hearings.

Moreover, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is already investigating the case while the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has initiated the freezing of accounts of some of those involved.

“Their statements are not standalone evidence. The case won't die or collapse on the basis of their recantation,” he said.

Aside from this, Lacson noted that former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez have already turned over money and vehicles to the government, an indication that they admitted wrongdoing.