MANILA — Sen. Bam Aquino called on government agencies to intensify efforts to resolve issues surrounding the alleged flood control scandal, stressing the need for urgency as nearly a year has passed since the matter was publicly raised.

During a manifestation at the Blue Ribbon Committee’s consultative meeting, Aquino said there were still many questions that needed to be answered by the 18 bodyguards who have been linked to allegations involving flood control projects.

“Marami po tayong tanong at iyong mga tanong natin ay para sa 18 bodyguards na hinihikayat pa rin po nating mag-attend dito po sa ating meeting. Eventually, magiging hearing po ito and under oath mapag-uusapan iyong kanilang sinasabi at malalaman natin iyong katotohanan,” Aquino said.

He urged representatives from the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Ombudsman to continue pursuing the matter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Aquino noted that nearly a year had passed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised concerns about flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address.

“Kailangan ho nating i-resolve itong issue ng flood control. Mag-iisang taon na po ang SONA. Iyong SONA po last year, doon po lumabas iyong ‘mahiya naman kayo’ at mag-iisang taon na po iyan. Next month na po iyan. So huwag na nating paabutin ng isang taon na iyong pinakamalalaking isda ay hindi po nahuhuli,” he said.

The senator said the investigation should proceed without bias and follow the evidence wherever it leads.

“Sana po gawin natin iyan na wala ho tayong kinikilingan. We follow the law. We follow where the evidence leads us at gawin natin iyong nararapat,” he said.

Aquino also dismissed suggestions that the public had already forgotten about the controversy, saying the rainy season would likely bring renewed attention to the issue.

“Pero hindi po nakakalimutan iyong flood control dahil meron pong magpapaalala sa atin ng flood control: iyong panahon,” he said.

“Kapag bumaha na po sa Metro Manila, sa Cebu, sa Iloilo at napakarami pong mga lugar, pag bumabaha na po sa buong kapuluan natin, maalala ng tao itong issue na ito at iisipin nila meron bang nangyari?” he added.

Aquino said it was important for the hearings and investigations to continue and reach a resolution before the first anniversary of the controversy.

“Kaya mahalaga po na ituloy po iyong hearing, ituloy po iyong imbestigasyon at sana po mare-resolve na natin ito bago pa umabot ng one year anniversary na kung saan po una itong nailabas,” he said.

He described the alleged anomaly as one of the country’s biggest corruption issues and emphasized the need to identify those responsible.

“Isa po ito sa pinakamalaking nakawan sa buong kasaysayan ng ating bansa,” Aquino said.

The senator acknowledged the challenges faced by investigators but urged them to maintain a sense of urgency in pursuing the case.

“Let’s do our best. I know, everyone is trying their hardest, but mahalaga siguro po itong sense of urgency natin na magkaroon ng resolution ang issue na ito. Mahuli ang dapat mahuli, iyong talagang nasa likod nito, mastermind, kung saan man po ito mapunta, kailangan po talagang mahuli na,” he said.

Aquino added that resolving the issue would allow the government to focus on other pressing concerns, including disaster response efforts following the earthquake that struck Mindanao earlier in the day.

“Napakarami pong issue, napakarami pong krisis. Ngayon lang po nagkaroon ng earthquake po sa Mindanao at marami sa amin, pagkatapos po ng hearing na ito ay aaksiyunan na rin natin ang iba’t ibang pwedeng gawin po doon,” he said.

“Pero habang hindi pa po ito nabibigyan ng tamang resolusyon, patuloy po iyong sugat na ito sa ating bansa na kailangan pong magkaroon na ng lunas,” he added.