Senior Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday, July 23 assured the public that the Senate will continue its ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects.

Ejercito said the Senate will carry out its duties despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing efforts to hold those behind flood control projects anomalies will move forward.

He dismissed claims that the ongoing impeachment proceedings would derail the Senate's efforts to look into the controversial flood control projects.

"May nagsasabing ginagamit ang impeachment para matabunan ang isyu ng flood control. Hindi po totoo iyon. Hindi pa tapos ang imbestigasyon at sisiguraduhin nating maipagpapatuloy ito. Walang dapat makalusot sa paglustay ng pera ng taumbayan (Some say that impeachment is being used to overshadow the flood control issue. That is not true. The investigation is not yet over, and we will ensure it continues. No one should get away with squandering the people's money),” he stressed.

Ejercito noted the Ombudsman is currently preparing to file criminal charges against those involved in the flood control projects scandal.

“Ang sabi ni Ombudsman, walong ‘congtractors’ ang next na makakasuhan (The Ombudsman has announced that eight contractors would be charged next)," Ejercito said.

“Dapat matukoy at mapanagot ang iba pang tunay na mga salarin, partikular ang mga ‘congtractor’ at ang mga nagpasimuno ng mga allocables (The other true perpetrators must be identified and held accountable, particularly the ‘contractors’ and the instigators of the allocations),” he added.

To recall, the Ombudsman said it will file charges against at least eight members of the House of Representatives who were allegedly involved in companies that secured government contracts, over alleged conflict of interest in flood control projects.

On May 12, the Ombudsman said it received the partial report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that recommended filing of criminal charges against some legislators as well as intermediaries and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees.

The Senate Impeachment Court on Wednesday, wrapped up the third week of the trial with the House prosecution panel resting its case on Article IV of the verified impeachment complaint.

The House panel presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag as their last witness who completed the testimony under Article IV, which pertains to the vice president making grave threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Other than the flood control probe, Ejercito said the Senate will also continue fulfilling its legislative and oversight functions—including deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.

He said the Senate cannot stop working, and so, while the impeachment proceedings are underway, the budget process and other investigations must also continue.

Parehong mahalaga ang pananagutan at maayos na pamamahala (Accountability and good governance are equally important),” said Ejercito, who also now chairs the Senate Committee on Finance. he said.

As head of the finance panel, Ejercito vowed to pursue a transparent and accountable budget process.

"Ang bawat pisong mula sa buwis ng taumbayan ay dapat napupunta sa mga programang tunay na kailangan ng mga Pilipino. Hindi puwedeng masayang o manakaw ang pondong inilaan para sa flood control habang ang mga komunidad ay patuloy na binabaha (Every peso from the people's taxes must go toward programs that Filipinos truly need. Funds allocated for flood control cannot be wasted or stolen while communities continue to suffer from flooding),” he said.

"Nauunawaan natin ang galit at pagkadismaya ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya mas lalo nating paiigtingin ang pagbabantay sa bawat sentimo ng pondo ng bayan. Kailangang maibalik natin ang tiwala ng publiko sa pamamagitan ng isang budget na tapat, malinaw, at walang puwang ang korapsyon (We understand the anger and frustration of our fellow citizens. That is why we will further intensify our vigilance over every centavo of public funds. We must restore public trust through a budget that is honest, transparent, and leaves no room for corruption),” he further stressed.