Senator Bam Aquino has signed the draft partial report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on its investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects, making him the only senator so far to formally back the document.
The report came out of months of Senate hearings that examined how billions of pesos allocated for flood mitigation projects were planned, funded, and implemented across the country. The inquiry looked into claims that some projects were poorly executed or improperly managed despite large public spending intended to address flooding in vulnerable communities.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, confirmed that Aquino remains the lone signatory to the draft report circulated among committee members for review.
The document contains the panel’s initial findings based on testimonies, project records, and financial documents presented during the hearings. It also outlines possible next steps, including recommendations for further investigation or the filing of complaints against individuals mentioned in the inquiry if the evidence supports it.
Lacson said the committee’s conclusions must follow the records gathered during the proceedings.
“Based on facts, based on evidence, and we should be led by or we should follow the evidence,” Lacson said.
The flood control probe became one of the Senate’s major infrastructure oversight investigations after concerns emerged over how public funds were used in flood mitigation programs across several regions.
Under Senate rules, a committee report requires at least 11 signatures before it can be formally adopted and submitted to the Senate plenary for deliberation. For now, Aquino remains the only senator who has formally endorsed the draft report while other members continue reviewing the document.
