Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177805731282020260119-senate-probe-flood-control-lacson-JC9654.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News<br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson suggested Wednesday that there was no “overall mastermind” for the flood control scandal.</p><p>Lacson, who led the Senate Blue Ribbon Commitee’s inquiry into the scam, said their findings suggest different masterminds for every region.</p><p>“I don&#x27;t think there&#x27;s an overall mastermind kasi nga &#x27;di ba, ano &#x27;to eh, driven by greed…parasitic,” he said. </p><p>&quot;Based on evidence, walang isang taong pwedeng mag-command sa lahat ng RD (regional districts), no, not even the DPWH secretary… Sa Bulacan, may mastermind. Sa Mindoro, may mastermind.” </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/17/only-30-of-flood-control-funds-reach-projects-alcantara-1327">Alcantara testifies only 30 percent of flood control funds go to implementation</a></div><p>Asked about reports that the Ombudsman had tagged former Speaker Martin Romualdez as the mastermind, Lacson said, &quot;Probably they have the evidence to support their case. Pero it&#x27;s up to them.” </p><p>Lacson added that even former Congressman Zaldy Co might not be a mastermind. </p><p>“Hindi mo pa rin siya ma-attribute na mastermind. Harap lang siya sa napakaraming counts ng kaso. Meron siyang plunder sa Bulacan, may plunder sa Mindoro, may plunder siya sa kung saan man,&quot; the senator said. </p><p>“‘Pag sinabing mastermind, fully organized parang mafia na lahat na sa ‘yo susunod,&quot; he said. </p><p><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/24/romualdez-ombudsman-inhibit-flood-control-probe-1016">Romualdez has asked the Ombudsman to inhibit </a>itself from investigating him over the alleged flood control controversy due to an alleged “pattern of prejudgment” that violates due process. </p><p>In April, Romualdez added that he would <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/romualdez-says-he-will-not-allow-myself-to-be-turned-into-scapegoat-in-flood-control-mess-1825">“not allow myself to be turned into the scapegoat” </a>and denied that he masterminded budget insertions tied to flood control anomalies.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/palace-zaldy-co-seeking-asylum-in-france-1540">Co has reportedly sought asylum in France.  </a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PARTIAL COMMITTEE REPORT </strong></div><p>Lacson said he could still clear some of his colleagues embroiled in the scandal, if only they signed the partial committee report and challenged it before the plenary session. </p><p>“Kung nagpirma lang sila, that&#x27;s their platform to defend themselves. Habang nag-i-interpelate, eh sabihin nila hindi totoo yan kasi ito. Kaya baka pwedeng i-strike out natin diyan sa record ng committee report or partial committee report yung portion,” he said. </p><p>Lacson on Tuesday<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/nation/2026/5/5/lacson-wants-preliminary-investigation-on-romualdez-escudero-villanueva-estrada-1904"> recommended an investigation </a>on personalities who are allegedly involved in the flood control scandal, including Romualdez, Co, former Senate President Francis Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, and former representative Mitch Cajayon Uy.</p><p>Lacson explained that the Chairman&#x27;s Progress report he delivered on Tuesday was just a synthesis of the partial committee report that could not be reported out due to the lack of signatures from members.</p><p>Lacson said no other signature has been added to the 7 signatures already on the report before he made his speech. </p><p>He said he was hopeful more would sign up so that the report could be discussed and possibly amended in the plenary session. </p><p>Lacson stressed the report is not final and still up for final action by the full Senate.  </p><p>&quot;Hopefully, kasi yung challenge is now on them, ano.If they want to interpellate me, if they want to amend or introduce amendments, if they want to modify, or even if they want not to adopt the partial committee report, then they should sign and get on with it,” he said. </p><p>Lacson acknowledged that the personal relationships between senators could have been a factor as to why the report lacked signatures. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE SHAKEUP </strong></div><p>Lacson said he was ready in case of a shakeup in the Senate leadership due to the investigation.</p><p>Lacson said he would submit the progress report to the Ombudsman and justice department to aid their own investigation. </p><p>&quot;That is the next move. Pina-prepare ko na yung transmittal letter to the Office of the Ombudsman para ibigay sa kanila yung lahat, all the pieces of evidence gathered, documentary, testimonial,” he said. </p><p>He added that the money returned so far by witnesses in the flood control scandal were “way below what should have been restituted or offered to be restituted.” </p><div><strong>— Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4gK1XLHwrpg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k71hZK1R8aA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson suggested Wednesday that there was no “overall mastermind” for the flood control scandal.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson suggested Wednesday that there was no “overall mastermind” for the flood control scandal.

Lacson: No single ‘overall mastermind’ in flood control scam

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Lacson: No single ‘overall mastermind’ in flood control scam

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2026 04:52 PM PHT

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Updated May 06, 2026 08:48 PM PHT

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