MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the government is “getting there” in efforts to uncover corruption in flood control projects, following recommendations by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to file graft, plunder, and bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former lawmaker Elizaldy Co.

“We’re getting there. We are beginning to see the fruits of our collective labor. But make no mistake: the road ahead is long, and we must sustain our efforts until we reach the logical conclusion: the prosecution, conviction, and jailing of those involved. This can be done only through the gathering and presentation of evidence,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects.

On Friday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson delivered several boxes of evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman. The materials involve more than P100 billion worth of contracts awarded from 2016 to 2025 to Co’s firms—Sunwest, Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp.

Singson said more documents are expected, including those from joint Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines teams that inspected various flood control projects.

In two privilege speeches delivered in August and September, Lacson detailed alleged corrupt practices in flood control spending, citing substandard and non-existent projects and what he described as systemic and brazen corruption in the DPWH. He said the schemes were so blatant that some individuals involved were able to “gamble away taxpayers’ money in casinos.”

Lacson has provided the ICI and Ombudsman with copies of his speeches and supporting documents to aid their investigations.

Despite recent progress, he cautioned that the process remains far from over, noting Singson’s initial estimate that up to 15 people per ghost project — or at least 1,200 individuals in 80 suspected projects — may face charges.

“I will extend my full support by providing the mandated investigating and prosecution agencies with whatever documents and other evidence we have, to help achieve the logical conclusion with the prosecution, conviction and jailing of those involved,” Lacson said.

“We can all help in making those involved answerable. I will augment such efforts with whatever documents or other pieces of evidence we have,” he added.