Senate subpoenas former DPWH officials as flood control probe resumes January 19

The Philippine Senate issued subpoenas to former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and other prominent individuals as the Blue Ribbon Committee resumes public hearings on anomalous flood control projects on Monday (January 19).

Signed by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, the subpoenas cover former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan; former Congressman Zaldy Co; Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana; former Special Envoy to China Maynard Ngu; and former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygive Olaivar over their alleged involvement in corruption linked to flood control projects.

Sotto confirmed the issuance of subpoenas in a message to reporters on Friday (January 16).

The individuals concerned were served subpoenas because they failed to attend the committee’s earlier hearings.

If they will still fail to appear for the hearing on Monday, they may be cited in contempt, issued a show-cause order, or required to explain why they should not be held in contempt. If the senators are not satisfied with their explanation, or if no explanation is given, the Senate may order their arrest.

The flood control projects scandal in the Philippines involves widespread allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and fraudulent contracting in government-funded flood control and water infrastructure projects, particularly those carried out by the DPWH and overseen by national and local officials. Investigation in the Senate began through the Blue Ribbon panel in August 2025.

One of those subpoenaed, Co, a former lawmaker, was first linked to the issue by former Bulacan First District Engineering Office Head Henry Alcantara last year.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 23, 2025, Alcantara disclosed massive project allocations in Bulacan from 2022 to 2025, totaling 426 projects worth ₱35.024 billion.

Alcantara claimed that the cut received by Co’s supporters increased from 20 percent in 2022 to 25 percent over the years, depending on whether the projects were added through the National Expenditure Program (NEP), bicameral conference committee hearings, or Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA), all of which are stages in the budget process.

Meanwhile, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo named Maynard Ngu and Trygive Olaivar in his affidavit.

Bernardo claimed that that Olaivar introduced him to Senator Nancy Binay's aide Carleen Yap-Villa, who first coordinated with him regarding Binay’s projects and commitments around 2022.

Bernardo alleged that Yap-Villa, on behalf of Binay, requested a list of flood control projects totaling approximately P1.882 billion “with a 12 percent commitment” or a 12 percent share.

Personally, Bernardo said he took a 3 percent cut from the P1.882-billion total amount of flood control projects. f

Bernardo also mentioned in his statement his alleged dealings with Senator Francis Escudero regarding a list of infrastructure projects.

Bernardo insisted that it was Maynard Ngu—appointed in 2023 as special envoy to China for trade, investments, and tourism—who acted on the senator’s behalf.

Meanwhile, Sotto also confirmed that an invitation has been sent to Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, coursed through House Speaker Faustino Dy.

Leviste previously made public the so-called “Cabral files,” or documents allegedly left behind by the late former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

The Cabral Files, released in late 2025, reportedly contain budget information from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), detailing projects and funds allocated to various legislative districts from 2023 to 2026.

Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste made the documents public on December 24, 2025, claiming that he obtained them from Cabral before her death.

-Paraluman News