Jamaine Punzalan

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ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jCcSFuu3CtE" title="LIVE: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes hearing on anomalous flood control projects | Sept 23" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday warned that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla could be disbarred over his stance that contractors should return the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous projects before they could qualify for witness protection. </p><p>In a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on flood control anomalies, Remulla told Marcoleta that while restitution is not required by law, it is “morally right” and “what is expected of us.”</p><p>“This is a crime against the financial status of the Filipino people, of the Philippine republic. I think it&#x27;s just right that we ask,” Remulla said, before Marcoleta cut him off.</p><p>“Are you amending [the law]?” the senator said.</p><p>Remulla replied, “No, sir. But that&#x27;s how we run the Witness Protection Program.” </p><p>Marcoleta then asserted that restitution could only come after criminal liability is proven.</p><p>“Papaano mo sasabihin na magre-restitute ang isang tao, meron na bang findings magkano ang ire-restitute and how it can be restituted? Nag-a-apply pa lang e. Huwag po ninyong babaguhin ang requisite ng batas,” he said.</p><p>“I thought noong dumating ka dito, nagkaintindihan na tayo e. Kaya nablu-blur ang proceedings natin,” Marcoleta told Remulla.</p><p>The Department of Justice chief replied that he was “operating from the vantage point of the reason behind the law.”</p><p>“What is the reason behind the law? So that we can get justice and justice can only be attained if there is restitution,” Remulla said.</p><p>“We are operating on a unique set of facts. All of these matters are being evaluated because the gravity of this financial crime cannot be underestimated. The more assets that we are able to preserve at the outset, the better for our country,” he said.</p><p>Remulla added that he respected Marcoleta’s opinion but “we will carry out our job as we deem fit.”</p><p>Marcoleta replied, “I am not expressing an opinion here, I am articulating the provision of law.”</p><p>“You do not change the provision of law, Mr. Secretary. You may be disbarred from doing this,” he warned.</p><p>Remulla told Marcoleta, &quot;It&#x27;s your option, sir.&quot; </p><p>&quot;It is what you wish to happen, you may proceed with what you wish,&quot; Remulla added. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;BEND THE LAW TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE&#x27;</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Other senators agreed with Remulla&#x27;s stance. </p><p>&quot;Wala nga talaga sa batas magsoli muna ng pera para ikaw ay mapasok sa WPP. Pero kung pagbabasehan kagustuhan ng taumabayan nanggagalaiti, galit ng taumbayan na gusto nilang magpakita in goodwill yung accused bago siya mapunta sa WPP siguro mas maganda kung sundin natin kagustuhan ng taumbayan right,&quot; Sen. Raffy Tulfo said. </p><p>Sen. Erwin Tulfo added that thousands who joined anti-corruption protests over the weekend demanded the return of taxpayers&#x27; money lost in flood control anomalies. </p><p>&quot;Sometimes you have to bend the law to be able to please the people. Mas mataas po ang taongbayan sa batas,&quot; he said. </p><p>Sen. Francis Pangilinan noted that former Bulacan engineer Brice Hernandez, who admitted to pocketing funds from flood control projects, recently surrendered several vehicles. </p><p>&quot;Therefore, this restitution issue, while it is the law, does not prevent the government from being broader, mas malawak ang kanyang pag-implementa ng mga programa at batas,&quot; he said. </p><p>The Department of Finance has estimated the Philippine economy lost up to P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects.</p><p>Greenpeace has suggested the number is actually closer to $18 billion.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/18/brice-hernandez-says-dpwh-engineers-shared-profits-from-ghost-projects-1325">Brice Hernandez says DPWH engineers &#x27;shared&#x27; profits from ghost projects</a></div><p>The scandal has seen numerous lawmakers implicated and the leaders of both houses of Congress step down from their positions during an investigation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/henry-alcantara-tags-revilla-estrada-villanueva-co-in-budget-insertions-kickbacks-1041">Ex-DPWH official Henry Alcantara tags Revilla, Estrada, Villanueva, Co in budget insertions, kickbacks</a></div><p>Thousands of Filipinos rallied in Manila on Sunday to vent their anger over a ballooning scandal involving bogus flood-control projects believed to have cost taxpayers billions of pesos.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/-away-kaagad-tayo-lacson-marcoleta-clash-over-integrity-of-blue-ribbon-probe-0947">&#x27;Away kaagad tayo!&#x27;: Lacson, Marcoleta clash over &#x27;integrity&#x27; of Blue Ribbon probe</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/more-than-200-arrested-in-manila-protest-riot-isko-tags-alleged-instigators-2050">More than 200 arrested in Manila protest riot; Isko tags alleged instigators</a></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ" title="Lubog sa Katiwalian: An ABS-CBN News Special on Philippine Flood Control Projects (Full Documentary)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday warned that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla could be disbarred over his stance that contractors should return the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous projects before they could qualify for witness protection.</p>

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday warned that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla could be disbarred over his stance that contractors should return the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous projects before they could qualify for witness protection.

‘You may be disbarred from doing this’: Marcoleta, Remulla spar over restitution for witness protection

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‘You may be disbarred from doing this’: Marcoleta, Remulla spar over restitution for witness protection

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 23, 2025 10:57 AM PHT

|

Updated September 23, 2025 11:08 AM PHT

Read More:

corruption

flood control

baha

Senate

Blue Ribbon

Marcoleta

Remulla

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