Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares called for the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings and to fully open to the public all hearings, including that of the Independent.Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), into the alleged multi-billion peso flood-control scam, warning that suspensions, recesses, and off-camera proceedings only fuel suspicion of a cover-up.
“Sinuspend na ang Infracomm hearings sa Kamara, mag-be break din ang Senate investigation tapos hindi naman televised ang ICI. Kapag ganito ang mangyayari paano pa mababantayan ng mamamayan ang nangyayari sa imbestigasyon at mapagdududahan na may cover up na nangyayari,” said Colmenares.”we urge the ICI to make their hearings accessible to the public and the media. We also ask Sen. Panfilo Lacson to continue the Senate hearings and cover school buildings, roads including FMRs, and infrastructure projects of SAGIP, SIPSIP and other pork barrel projects in all districts nationwide. That will serve to balance the hitherto unknown investigations of the ICI.”
Colmenares, a budget reform and anti-corruption advocate, urged both chambers and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure to expand the scope of the probe. “Based on claims raised in the Sept. 23 Senate hearing and disclosures attributed to officials like Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Usec. Catalina Cabral, the problem is not confined to flood-control projects. We must also investigate roads, school buildings, multi-purpose buildings, and hospitals—and we must do so nationwide,” he said.
“If half of the ‘allocable’ budget is vulnerable to insertions and anomalies, the probe should cover Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The people deserve the whole truth.”Colmenares said
He added: “Corruption involving appropriations in the GAA is far-reaching. All projects associated with senators, districts, and party-list representatives are now proper subjects of investigation if we are to get to the bottom of this web of corruption.”
He emphasized that transparency and people’s oversight are non-negotiable. “The Filipino people have a right to know, in real time, how their money is being used and abused. Continuing, televised, and accessible hearings are essential to establishing accountability,” Colmenares said.
“We urge the House and the Senate to keep the proceedings going, stop the stonewalling, and compel the production of all documents and testimonies.”be added
Colmenares outlined three key areas for comprehensive budget reform to stop the continuing plunder of public funds:
1) End opaque insertions and ensure real accountability. “Hold Bicam members accountable, prohibit presidential ‘urgent’ certification that railroads scrutiny of the budget, and strike from the GAA discretionary allocations via unprogrammed funds, confidential funds, and parked funds in agencies such as DPWH, DSWD, CHED, TESDA, DOLE, and DOH,” he said.
2) Stop the executive–legislative conspiracy in budget execution. “Cut off the channels that allow legislators to park pork and pick contractors within executive agencies. Unless we stop this collusion, corruption will recur. Dapat ikulong ang lahat ng involved dito para maturuan sila ng leksyon,” Colmenares stressed.
3) Strengthen oversight and accountability institutions. “We need persons of unquestioned integrity in the COA, DBM, Ombudsman, and Sandiganbayan. Naparusahan ba nang tama ang mga sangkot sa Napoles scandal, fertilizer scam, at NBN-ZTE overpricing? Hindi—kaya sila namimihasa. Without serious penalties and imprisonment, plunder will repeat again and again.”
“We won constitutional battles against PDAF and DAP, but pork and corruption persisted through new schemes,” Colmenares added. “A systemic problem requires systemic reform—a transparent, participatory, and truly accountable budget process.”
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” he said. “Isapubliko ang buong proseso—mula dokumento hanggang testimonya—para makapagbantay ang taumbayan at managot ang sinumang nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan.”
Colmenares urged the public to remain vigilant and organized. “The vultures are just waiting for the issue to subside. Our protests must grow larger and our voices stronger in demanding genuine budget and social reforms. We must overhaul the system so that public funds serve the people, not the few.”
“Hindi tayo dapat mapagod,” Colmenares concluded. “Ituloy ang imbestigasyon, isapubliko ang lahat, at repormahin ang badyet mula ugat hanggang dulo. Panagutin ang tiwali at ibalik ang pondo sa serbisyo sa mamamayan.”
