Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urges Filipinos to unite against corruption

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged Filipinos to unite against corruption and addressed what he described as alleged "selective justice" in the government's handling of the ongoing flood control controversy.

Addressing more than 12,000 supporters during a lightning rally along EDSA on June 30, 2026, Cayetano said the public must take a stand.

“Dumating na ang panahon na kailangan sabihin nating, ‘Tama na! Tama na!’”

Cayetano said many Filipinos initially believed the government was serious about pursuing accountability after the President's 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), which highlighted alleged ghost projects and irregularities involving flood control programs. However, he claimed that political considerations eventually weakened those efforts.

Referring to earlier inquiries conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under Senators Panfilo Lacson and Rodante Marcoleta, Cayetano said the investigations had exposed several alleged anomalies before their direction changed.

“Nagkaisa kami sa Minority noon… kung makakatulong sa bansa, kung mahahanap ang magnanakaw, kung ang kadiliman ay mabibigyan ng ilaw, OK na,” he said.

“Nagspeech po siya (Lacson), na-reveal ang ghost projects. Ang dami naexpose. And then pinalitan si Senator Marcoleta [bilang chairman ng Blue Ribbon]. Noong pinalitan si Sen. Marcoleta, ang mastermind ay senator na lang. Nawala na y’ung iba [na sangkot] sa departments, secretaries, congressman, at nawala na y’ung napakalaking tao na siya ang nagpagalaw ng lahat,” he added.

Cayetano also pointed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla's statement that a "mastermind" was behind the alleged anomalies, contrasting it with Lacson's view that there was no mastermind.

“Sabi ni Ombudsman Remulla mismo na merong mastermind. Ano po ang sabi ni Sen. Lacson? Walang mastermind. Malinaw na malinaw po na ang unang nagbigay ng pag-asa sa atin na Pangulo ay hindi na po nahihiya. Sa totoo lang po, kawalang hiyaan na ang ginagawa,” he said.

He further argued that alleged irregularities involving flood control and road maintenance allocations in 2023 had not been fully examined despite the size of the budget.

“Noong 2023, halos isang trilyong piso ang budget ng DPWH. Ang flood control projects, mahigit P300B. Ang maintenance ng roads, unang beses naging one third [ang allocation] ng budget. Mahigit din na P300B,” he said.

“Usually 70% ng budget ay bagong kalye, tulay, at building. First time noong 2023 na [pinakamalaki ang] flood control at maintenance. Ang maintenance po, hindi pa iniimbestighan hanggang ngayon,” he added, saying similar spending levels continued in 2024 without sufficient scrutiny.

Cayetano also told protesters that those pursuing corruption cases have faced pressure but remain committed to their efforts. He mentioned fellow lawmakers Rodante Marcoleta, Jinggoy Estrada, Ronald Dela Rosa, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, and Robinhood Padilla.

“Huwag po ninyo kaming alalahanin… Desidido po kaming lumaban,” he said.

Closing his remarks, Cayetano urged Filipinos to set aside political, religious, and regional differences and unite against corruption.

“Tama na! … Sana bilang Pilipino, makasigaw tayo ng ‘We are one [against corruption]’” Cayetano said, repeatedly emphasizing the call for unity and accountability.

-Paraluman News