Biz groups: Flood-control probes shouldn’t end with filing of charges

MANILA, Philippines – Ahead of the Senate’s resumed flood-control probe, four business and civil society groups urged faster investigation and prosecution of those linked to the multibillion-peso scandal.

In a joint statement, the groups said that while charges have already been filed against several high-profile officials, many individuals identified in ongoing investigations have yet to be brought to justice.

READ: Senate panel to continue flood control probe on June 4

The Management Association of the Philippines, the Justice Reform Initiative, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia and the Institute of Corporate Directors’ statement came a day before the Senate blue ribbon committee continues its inquiry into the alleged flood control anomalies.

“Accountability remains incomplete,” the statement read. “Several individuals publicly identified in ongoing investigations have yet to be brought before Philippine courts, and many of the reforms needed to prevent similar abuses remain unfinished.”

As such, the groups called on the government to expedite the investigation, prosecution and resolution of corruption cases linked to flood control projects.

Failing to do so risks repeating the same governance weaknesses seen in previous corruption scandals, they warned.

“From ZTE to PDAF, Pharmally, and now the questions surrounding flood control projects, a common pattern emerges: weak transparency, fragmented oversight, delayed intervention, and inadequate visibility into who ultimately benefits from government spending,” the groups said. 

“The filing of cases should mark the beginning—not the end—of the reform process,” they added.

Among those invited to the hearing are former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the 18 supposed former Marines who claimed they delivered cash-filled suitcases to Romualdez and former House appropriations committee chair Elizaldy Co. /pai INQ