By Diego Morra
With the expose on the multi-billion plunder of taxpayer money that went to bogus flood control projects (FCPs) or substandard climate change mitigation work in Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro, Bicol Region, Cordillera, Negros Occidental, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Davao Region, Romblon, Quezon City, Manila, Navotas City, Las Pinas City and countless other jurisdictions gripping the nation, it is terribly hard to imagine how Malacanang could escape the gauntlet.
The world-class FCP scandal has not escaped the attention of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) which has been working double-time to push the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). While EBF has been urging both the GRP and the NDFP to resume exploratory talks based on the agreement signed on November 23, 2023, the DPWH and a gaggle of lawmakers have been busy sharing the FCP loot, leaving the projects to make do with only 35% of the appropriation for each FCP. Confronted with a mountain of testimonial and documentary evidence, as well as confessions of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers and the contractor-couple Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, the EBF call for all those responsible for the plunder to be held accountable.
The plunder of the national coffers has serious implications about the capability of the Marcos Jr. administration to reform itself, use the national coffers to promote the people’s welfare rather than set aside hundreds of millions of pesos to line the pockets of lawmakers who double as contractors (about 67 of them as of last count) who implement projects funded by congressional insertions and the contractors who implement substandard projects and keep that enable them to buy Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, choppers and private jets.
“A number of organizations, civic and private, have issued strong statements condemning the scandal. Such a large-scale corruption is no less a ‘moral disgrace and anathema’ that impairs the dignity of the entire Filipino people. The misuse of public funds is obviously a result of an unholy collusion of amoral interest among shameful public officials, and some unscrupulous bloodsuckers. The words of the Prophet in Isaiah 1: 23 resoundingly reverberate: ‘Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them,’” the September 10, 2025 EBF statement stressed.
The statement was signed by the following: Most Rev. Nestor D. Poltic, Sr., Prime Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP) and EBF Co-Chairperson; Bishop Joseph D. Agpaoa, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and EBF Co-Chairperson; Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco, (Ret.) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and EBF General Secretary; UMC Bishop RubyNell M. Estrella. EBF Treasurer; Rt. Rev. Emelyn Gasco-Dacuycuy of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and EBF Auditor; Rt. Rev. Rowel Arevalo of IFI, EBF Member-at-Large, and; Most Rev. Bishop Emeritus Deogracias S. Iniguez, Jr., DD of the Roman Catholic Church, EBF Member-at-Large.
“We strongly condemn this inhumane crime and demand justice and accountability. Flood-control infrastructure is useless and ineffectual because of ‘ghost projects,’ costly contracts, and the use of substandard materials. This scam is a clear betrayal of the public trust because it keeps billions of pesos from going to the most vulnerable populations, such as farmers and the urban poor. The fund that was supposed to go to important infrastructure has been stolen, putting people in danger,” EBF argued.
Separate inquiries into corruption have been started by the government. There is now a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that is centered on officials and contractors. Some officials have reportedly been dismissed of their duties and a new DPWH secretary, Vince Dizon, has been appointed. Hopefully, Dizon can make a clean breast of allegations that he figured in irregular transactions for the New Clark City, the venue for some events in the 2019 ASEAN Games. Dizon was the head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at that time.
This critical issue merely reflects a more profound, systemic challenge within governance. Religious groups and concerned organizations view this scandal as a stark revelation of a culture of impunity, in which greed undermines public trust and obstructs national progress. “As ecumenical bishops representing diverse churches, we firmly call for complete transparency, open bidding processes, independent audits, and the prosecution of all individuals involved, irrespective of their status. We call on every Filipino to advocate for reforms and safeguard public funds,” the statement added.
