Screengrab from Julius Babao YT

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has officially approved the issuance of subpoenas compelling five contractors and three officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to appear before the Senate on September 8. The move comes as part of the ongoing inquiry into alleged irregularities surrounding flood control projects across different parts of the country.

According to the Senate order, the concerned individuals are required to testify before the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee. The hearing aims to shed light on questionable practices and potential anomalies in the implementation of these infrastructure projects.

In addition to the subpoenas for the contractors and DPWH officials, Senate President Escudero also approved a separate subpoena directed to Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba. He is tasked to submit the highlights of the COA fraud audit related to these flood control projects. This report will include the agency’s findings as well as the responses of those implicated in the alleged irregularities.

The Senate stresses that compliance with these subpoenas is mandatory. Failure to appear at the scheduled hearing or to provide the requested documents could result in legal consequences, as these directives carry the full weight of the law.

The hearing, set for September 8 at 9:00 a.m. at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City, is expected to be a significant step toward uncovering the truth behind these controversial projects and ensuring accountability among public officials and private contractors involved.