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Advocates Philippines
Tulfo Delays Flood Probe As Senate Dispute Over Hearing Intensifies
Photo credit: Senate PH
A dispute within the Senate has intensified over the investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects after newly appointed Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo moved the hearing to June 8, while Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano pushed for the inquiry to proceed as originally scheduled on June 4.
Tulfo announced that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would postpone the planned June 4 hearing to allow more time for preparations. He said the committee needed to carefully review the list of resource persons and determine who should be invited to testify before the panel.
The postponement comes in the wake of a Senate leadership reshuffle that placed Tulfo at the helm of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Prior to the reorganization, invitations had already been issued for a June 4 hearing under the committee's previous leadership.
Tulfo has also indicated that he wants the investigation to be conducted in a transparent manner and with participation from both majority and minority senators to ensure the credibility of the proceedings.
Despite the postponement, Cayetano maintained that the June 4 hearing should continue, citing the importance of hearing testimony from witnesses who have recently surfaced with new information related to the controversy.
The disagreement has created uncertainty over the future of one of the Senate's most closely watched investigations, raising questions about which schedule will ultimately be recognized and how the leadership changes could affect the inquiry.
The flood control probe was launched in 2025 following allegations that some government-funded flood control projects were overpriced, poorly implemented, or allegedly existed only on paper despite receiving public funds.
Previous hearings featured testimony from whistleblowers and former public works officials who claimed that kickbacks were embedded in certain infrastructure contracts. Several officials linked to the allegations have denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation was later suspended while the committee worked on a partial report and completed procedural requirements needed to move the inquiry forward. Efforts to resume the hearings faced additional delays due to pending affidavits and other documentation.
With Tulfo rescheduling the hearing to June 8 and Cayetano continuing to advocate for an earlier proceeding, attention is now focused on how the Senate will resolve the scheduling dispute and whether the investigation can regain momentum after months of delays.
The probe involves billions of pesos in flood control spending and is expected to have significant political and legal implications as lawmakers continue examining allegations surrounding public infrastructure projects across the country.
Tulfo announced that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would postpone the planned June 4 hearing to allow more time for preparations. He said the committee needed to carefully review the list of resource persons and determine who should be invited to testify before the panel.
The postponement comes in the wake of a Senate leadership reshuffle that placed Tulfo at the helm of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Prior to the reorganization, invitations had already been issued for a June 4 hearing under the committee's previous leadership.
Tulfo has also indicated that he wants the investigation to be conducted in a transparent manner and with participation from both majority and minority senators to ensure the credibility of the proceedings.
Despite the postponement, Cayetano maintained that the June 4 hearing should continue, citing the importance of hearing testimony from witnesses who have recently surfaced with new information related to the controversy.
The disagreement has created uncertainty over the future of one of the Senate's most closely watched investigations, raising questions about which schedule will ultimately be recognized and how the leadership changes could affect the inquiry.
The flood control probe was launched in 2025 following allegations that some government-funded flood control projects were overpriced, poorly implemented, or allegedly existed only on paper despite receiving public funds.
Previous hearings featured testimony from whistleblowers and former public works officials who claimed that kickbacks were embedded in certain infrastructure contracts. Several officials linked to the allegations have denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation was later suspended while the committee worked on a partial report and completed procedural requirements needed to move the inquiry forward. Efforts to resume the hearings faced additional delays due to pending affidavits and other documentation.
With Tulfo rescheduling the hearing to June 8 and Cayetano continuing to advocate for an earlier proceeding, attention is now focused on how the Senate will resolve the scheduling dispute and whether the investigation can regain momentum after months of delays.
The probe involves billions of pesos in flood control spending and is expected to have significant political and legal implications as lawmakers continue examining allegations surrounding public infrastructure projects across the country.
Jun 3, 2026
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