MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is not inclined to reopen its inquiry into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, as some of its members have been implicated in the controversy.
“The institution should not investigate an issue wherein its own members are part of the accused. That’s like asking a student to grade their own paper in an exam,” House majority leader Sandro Marcos said.
Marcos said whatever the result of the investigation, if conducted by the lower chamber of Congress, would be “tainted” and not be credible as the public would point out that some of its members are allegedly involved.
“Let’s leave the ombudsman and the necessary bodies to do that themselves,” he said.
The House leader also said calls for the reopening of the investigations of the flood control scandal, particularly allies of the Dutertes, could just be “politicking and only meant to “take away” attention from the ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“I think it’s a battle of narratives and they just want to take away from the impeachment. I don’t want to say namumulitika, but it’s just a question of narratives,” he said.
The younger Marcos issued remarks as the flood control corruption issue once again took the spotlight as his father, President Marcos, held his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday.
During the President’s previous SONA in 2025, the flood control scandal took center stage when he delivered a scathing “Mahiya naman kayo! (you should be ashamed)” message to those involved in the scandal.
However, there were claims that the legal process in pursuing accountability in the controversy has been selective and delayed, with an opposition lawmaker questioning the whereabouts of the supposed “big fish” that the President swore to put behind bars.
So far, the highest-ranking official being prosecuted for the scandal is Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is now detained at the New Quezon City Jail for plunder and graft charges over an alleged P573 million worth of kickbacks from flood control projects.
Also in detention in the facility is former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. who is facing malversation and graft cases over an alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, worth P92.8 million.
The sole incumbent member of the House of Representatives who has been criminally charged over the flood control scandal is USWAG Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr. over alleged conflict of interest.
Former Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been charged with malversation and graft charges over an alleged flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, has since been expelled from the House and declared a fugitive. He remains at large.
The Office of the Ombudsman, meanwhile, has elevated to preliminary investigation complaints for plunder against Co and others over an alleged P56-billion corruption scheme.
Ahead of schedule on legislative agenda
The House resumed the second regular session “ahead of schedule” in advancing the government’s legislative priorities, despite months of “political noise” in Congress.
Marcos touted how the chamber passed 26 of the priority bills endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), which have since been transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and eventual approval.
In total, the House approved 229 measures during the first regular session of the 20th Congress, including 66 national bills and 163 local measures.
Marcos acknowledged that the recent Senate leadership dispute resulted in only two of the 53 priority bills endorsed by LEDAC were enacted into law, in particular Republic Act 12317, resetting the inaugural Bangsamoro parliamentary elections to Sept. 14, and RA 12316, which granted the President emergency powers to suspend or reduce the excise tax rate on petroleum products amid the rising fuel prices in the country due to the US-Israel war on Iran.
“The more political gulo that there is, the less time there is to work. Everyone knows that,” Marcos said.
He, however, expressed relief that the Senate is “now organized” under the leadership of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. — Delon Porcalla