Marilyn Cahatol

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The officials checked the progress of the San Agustin Bridge in Camba and the Candating flood-control project in Arayat, both designed to improve mobility and strengthen the province’s disaster resilience against flooding. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROBE

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176862794684920250923-flood-cointrol-pampanga-ici-MT21.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The officials checked the progress of the San Agustin Bridge in Camba and the Candating flood-control project in Arayat, both designed to improve mobility and strengthen the province’s disaster resilience against flooding. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The officials checked the progress of the San Agustin Bridge in Camba and the Candating flood-control project in Arayat, both designed to improve mobility and strengthen the province’s disaster resilience against flooding. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some cases related to flood-control projects will be out for resolution “next week,” Prosecutor-General Richard Anthony Fadullon said Saturday.</p><p>In a news briefing, Fadullon said among the cases up for resolution at the Department of Justice are those involving SYMS Construction and Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc.</p><p>Complaints against these firms were  filed in early December 2025.</p><p>“Yung ibang kaso, baka natatanong niyo bakit hindi nagsa-sabay sabay yung resolution, dahil iba’t iba ang time ng pagpa-file sa kanila. We have to follow the timelines depending on when the cases were actually filed with the department,” Fadullon told reporters.</p><p>He added some cases have been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for potential filing at the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>“There are cases which would be out for resolution by early next week and then we have the [Bureau of Internal Revenue] cases which are already ongoing preliminary investigation,” he said.</p><p>A preliminary investigation is a process to determine whether cases should be filed in court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/16/ombudsman-files-graft-charges-vs-revilla-dpwh-execs-over-bulacan-flood-project-1632">Ombudsman files graft charges vs Revilla, DPWH execs over Bulacan flood project</a></div><p>The prosecutor-general said the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council are still gathering evidence on other cases.</p><p>&quot;Totoo na malalaki ang halaga na naririnig natin kapag nakikinig tayo ng hearing [sa Kongreso]… pero hindi tayo nag-iimbestiga based on the amount but based on the evidence na nabanggit natin,” he also said</p><p>He added that it takes more than a name and an alleged amount to be mentioned for the government to file a case.</p><p>“Puwedeng sampahan ng kaso, kung gugustuhin natin, mamadaliin natin pero madi-dismiss din yan. Hindi yun ang gusto natin,” he added.</p><p>The best course of action, he said, is to get all the necessary pieces of evidence and make the case airtight.</p><p>The next steps include determining the jurisdiction of the cases — on whether these will be filed with the Regional Trial Court or the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>“It makes a difference. If it is the regional trial court, it does not have to go through the Office of the Ombudsman anymore. Kung Sandiganbayan naman, lahat ng resolution naman namin ay recommendatory and up for approval ng Office of the Ombudsman,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/14/remulla-bares-alleged-p1-billion-bribe-attempt-to-quiet-down-flood-control-probe-1304">Remulla bares alleged P1-billion offer to ‘quiet down’ flood control probe</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SUBPOENAS TO BE ISSUED TO SOME SENATORS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Asked about the status of the plunder case involving some senators involved in irregular flood control projects, Fadullon said they have just received the records from the Ombudsman regarding this.</p><p>“I believe by next week, this coming week, we will be issuing the subpoenas already in connection with those cases. Meaning to say, magsisimula na ang preliminary investigation sa kanila,” he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, Justice Spokesperson Polo Martinez said the non-inclusion of former Department of Public Works and Highways engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza in the Witness Protection Program does not mean they would no longer be included in the list of state witnesses.</p><p>This, after the DOJ categorically declared as<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/contractor-3-ex-dpwh-officials-now-state-witnesses-in-flood-control-cases-1438"> state witnesses</a> Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos earlier this week.</p><p>Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida had said the four would be immune from criminal liability.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, ang naging evaluation ng panel of the WPP ay hindi po magagamit ngayon, hindi material ang kanilang testimony. Ibig sabihin ba hindi na sila makakapagsumite o makakapag-attempt pa to apply as state witness? Hindi,” said Martinez. </p><p>“The DOJ welcomes any statement that would help it in its prosecution of the crimes at may investigation na rin,” he added.</p><p>Recantation of a witness statement will also not keep a case from progressing, he said.</p><p>“If they recant, it constitutes a violation of the memorandum of agreement that they executed with the WPP. May commitments diyan eh,” he added.</p><p>“It can also constitute as a crime. Besides that, it would also go to their credibility as a witness.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/malacanang-warns-bgc-boys-vs-recanting-flood-control-scandal-testimonies-1503">&#x27;Wag silang magpabudol&#x27;: Malacañang warns &#x27;BGC Boys&#x27; vs recanting flood control scandal testimonies</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?si=GazrYzYdK0DSiPKk" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Some flood control cases out for resolution ‘next week’ — Prosecutor General</p>

Some flood control cases out for resolution ‘next week’ — Prosecutor General

Some flood control cases out for resolution ‘next week’ — Prosecutor-General

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Some flood control cases out for resolution ‘next week’ — Prosecutor-General

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 17, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

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