Camille Naredo

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country on September 8, 2025.
Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE-PH

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176312859234620250908-senate-blue-ribbon-marcoleta-MD-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Sen. Rodante Marcoleta leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged anomalous flood-control projects on Friday took a tense turn as senators pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) on claims that applicants to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) were being asked to commit to restitution, a requirement not found in existing law, Republic Act. 6981.Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Rodante Marcoleta led the questioning, focusing on whether DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon or his office imposed conditions outside the legal parameters of the WPP, particularly in the case of contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya. The Discaya couple was present in Friday&#x27;s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and also submitted a ledger containing the names of lawmakers and former officials that are allegedly getting kickbacks from numerous, anomalous flood control projects. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/flood-control-scam-individuals-facing-charges-and-actions-to-recover-public-funds-0916">Flood control scandal: Individuals facing charges and government&#x27;s bid to recover funds</a></div>The topic of restitution in relation to their WPP application was raised by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.Lacson, however, said that restitution is not a legal requirement but could appear only later, framed as a voluntary commitment or pledge: “Wala nga sa batas ang restitution, pero it could come later… parang as a pledge, as a commitment.”Fadullon affirmed: “Yes, sir. That is correct, Mr. Chair.” Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, however, strongly criticized what he viewed as an attempt to “circumvent” the WPP law.He reminded the DOJ that: “The spring cannot rise higher than its source… What was not given to you by the law, you cannot have it.”Marcoleta also warned that such actions could amount to “grave abuse of discretion,” adding that introducing restitution into the MOA—without legal basis—opens the door to potential corruption. “‘Wag mo nang ipipilit ‘yung restitution na ‘yun… Wala kasi sa batas ‘yon,” he told Fadullon.Meanwhile, contractor Sarah Discaya, who earlier linked several lawmakers to anomalous projects, contradicted the DOJ’s previous statements about her cooperation and alleged that restitution was imposed as a precondition. “Definitely we weren’t [given security]… hindi po kami nabigyan ng DOJ ng any security whatsoever,” she said. She added that her family had to hire private security after they named 17 congressmen in the inquiry.Regarding cooperation, Discaya said they had prepared the required affidavits but were told they had to restitute first: “We were required to restitute first.”Lacson asked: &quot;You were required to restitute how much?” Discaya replied: “Wala silang sinabi na amount.” <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/13/comelec-reviewing-soces-over-concerns-on-marcoleta-s-declaration-2255">Comelec reviewing SOCEs over concerns on Marcoleta&#x27;s declaration</a></div>Fadullon, however, distanced himself from the claim: “I am not privy… I will have to validate that information.”Lacson then advised the couple to simply renew their application: “Maybe you can renew your application.” Lacson reiterated that restitution, if ever mentioned, should not be a precondition: “Actually hindi outright ‘yung restitution. Parang pledge ‘yan… Hindi outright kasi pagka outright, parang extortion ‘yun.”Marcoleta insisted that even a pledge should not be inserted into the MOA, noting the risk of funds being collected without clear procedures or accountability. “Ni hindi nga natin alam, magkano ba ‘yung re-restitute? Sino magtatago nito?… Para wala kayong sagutin, ‘wag niyo nang ipipilit ‘yon.”<div> </div>

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged anomalous flood-control projects took a tense turn as senators pressed the DOJ on claims that applicants to the Witness Protection Program were being asked to commit to restitution, a requirement not found in existing law, Republic Act. 6981.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged anomalous flood-control projects took a tense turn as senators pressed the DOJ on claims that applicants to the Witness Protection Program were being asked to commit to restitution, a requirement not found in existing law, Republic Act. 6981.

Marcoleta questions alleged restitution requirement in Witness Protection applications at Blue Ribbon Probe

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Marcoleta questions alleged restitution requirement in Witness Protection applications at Blue Ribbon Probe

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 14, 2025 10:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate of the Philippines

Sen. Panfilo Lacson

Blue Ribbon Committee

Zaldy Co

Discaya

flood control scandal

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