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Advocates Philippines
Defensor Claims Flood Control Scandal Bigger Than Ever As Rift Inside Government Deepens
Photo credit: Mike Defensor
Former lawmaker Mike Defensor has released a strongly worded statement questioning the administration’s latest move to pursue possible plunder, graft, and indirect bribery charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co, saying the sudden shift raises more questions than answers.
According to Defensor, the government’s stance only changed after Zaldy Co publicly accused the President of allegedly masterminding the flood control anomaly and enabling a system of corruption within the national budget. Defensor stressed that these allegations, if true, point to a scheme that spans multiple agencies, not just the DPWH.
He cited previous testimonies and revelations from officials, noting that issues involving questionable budget insertions have also surfaced in agencies such as the DOTR, DOH, and DepEd. Defensor also referenced Ombudsman Boying Remulla’s mention of Zaldy Co’s alleged efforts to corner e-passport machine contracts at the Bureau of Immigration, as well as statements from Agriculture Secretary Kiko Laurel on supposed demands related to fish import allocations.
Defensor described the situation as part of a larger pattern. He pointed to the recent resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman, which he claimed were shaped to present them as central figures in the alleged “massive collections” involving contractors.
He further highlighted conflicting accounts over the amounts supposedly involved. Sen. Ping Lacson earlier disclosed an affidavit from Usec. Bernardo alleging that Bersamin and Pangandaman received ₱26 billion. However, Defensor said Zaldy Co countered this claim, insisting the amount was actually ₱52 billion from Bulacan flood control projects alone. Defensor added that Co also claimed to have delivered an additional ₱25 billion “directly to the President” from a separate ₱100-billion allocation.
Defensor broke it down this way:
• Usec. Bernardo alleged ₱26B went to Bersamin and Pangandaman;
• Zaldy Co said it was actually ₱52B from Bulacan flood control;
• The ₱25B he allegedly delivered to the President came from a different budget source.
Because of these conflicting narratives, Defensor said the public is being presented with two versions of the scandal—one blaming Bersamin and Pangandaman, and another pointing at Romualdez and Zaldy Co. In both scenarios, he argued, the President is portrayed as uninvolved.
But Defensor claimed that after Zaldy Co’s disclosures, he believes the President “was involved from the beginning,” calling him “the architect” of the alleged scheme. These accusations have not been independently verified, and the administration has not yet issued a detailed response to Defensor’s latest remarks.
He warned that political maneuvering will continue as various factions attempt to influence public perception heading into the next election cycle. Still, Defensor said he remains confident that the truth will surface.
“For me, everything is in God’s hands,” he said, asserting that despite the power of the state, revelations have continued to emerge.
According to Defensor, the government’s stance only changed after Zaldy Co publicly accused the President of allegedly masterminding the flood control anomaly and enabling a system of corruption within the national budget. Defensor stressed that these allegations, if true, point to a scheme that spans multiple agencies, not just the DPWH.
He cited previous testimonies and revelations from officials, noting that issues involving questionable budget insertions have also surfaced in agencies such as the DOTR, DOH, and DepEd. Defensor also referenced Ombudsman Boying Remulla’s mention of Zaldy Co’s alleged efforts to corner e-passport machine contracts at the Bureau of Immigration, as well as statements from Agriculture Secretary Kiko Laurel on supposed demands related to fish import allocations.
Defensor described the situation as part of a larger pattern. He pointed to the recent resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman, which he claimed were shaped to present them as central figures in the alleged “massive collections” involving contractors.
He further highlighted conflicting accounts over the amounts supposedly involved. Sen. Ping Lacson earlier disclosed an affidavit from Usec. Bernardo alleging that Bersamin and Pangandaman received ₱26 billion. However, Defensor said Zaldy Co countered this claim, insisting the amount was actually ₱52 billion from Bulacan flood control projects alone. Defensor added that Co also claimed to have delivered an additional ₱25 billion “directly to the President” from a separate ₱100-billion allocation.
Defensor broke it down this way:
• Usec. Bernardo alleged ₱26B went to Bersamin and Pangandaman;
• Zaldy Co said it was actually ₱52B from Bulacan flood control;
• The ₱25B he allegedly delivered to the President came from a different budget source.
Because of these conflicting narratives, Defensor said the public is being presented with two versions of the scandal—one blaming Bersamin and Pangandaman, and another pointing at Romualdez and Zaldy Co. In both scenarios, he argued, the President is portrayed as uninvolved.
But Defensor claimed that after Zaldy Co’s disclosures, he believes the President “was involved from the beginning,” calling him “the architect” of the alleged scheme. These accusations have not been independently verified, and the administration has not yet issued a detailed response to Defensor’s latest remarks.
He warned that political maneuvering will continue as various factions attempt to influence public perception heading into the next election cycle. Still, Defensor said he remains confident that the truth will surface.
“For me, everything is in God’s hands,” he said, asserting that despite the power of the state, revelations have continued to emerge.
Nov 21, 2025
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