Senators, Lawmakers Face Criminal Charges Over Flood Control Scandal — Imee Marcos

Sen. Imee Marcos said criminal charges are expected to be filed by January 15 against several current and former lawmakers over their alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal.

Speaking on Wednesday, January 7, Marcos said she received information from an undisclosed source indicating that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and several members of the House of Representatives would be charged.

Marcos also said that CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap were among those reportedly included in the case buildup.

Hearings conducted last year by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee revealed allegations that Estrada, Villanueva, and Revilla received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.

Marcos said she believes her colleagues have long been preparing their legal defense but expressed concern that lawmakers from the House of Representatives were not being pursued with the same intensity. She specifically mentioned her cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.

“It makes me feel sad that only senators are being targeted even if it’s Bonjing and the speaker’s office that were the sources of corruption in flood control,” Marcos said, using a mocking reference to Romualdez.

She recalled that in November, she had earlier said Senate witness Orly Guteza would recant his testimony linking Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to the controversy.

Marcos also said there was, so far, no direct evidence linking Senators Francis Escudero and Mark Villar, as well as former senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, to so-called ghost or substandard flood control projects.

All of the individuals named have denied any involvement in the controversy, which triggered widespread protests in 2025 and renewed calls for accountability among government officials.

Marcos further claimed that members of the Blue Ribbon committee were being prevented from implicating certain administration figures, particularly Romualdez.

Her allegations were rejected by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who criticized what they described as baseless claims against the committee’s investigation.

“That’s impossible. Nobody’s preventing anyone from doing anything. Senator Lacson might get mad at such an accusation. Imbento,” Sotto said.

Lacson also dismissed Marcos’ statements, saying, “Out of respect for all the senators of the 20th Congress and the hardworking staff of the Blue Ribbon committee, I choose not to dignify Sen Marcos’ unfair, untruthful and baseless accusations.”

Marcos added that the ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice has so far focused on the alleged role of senators, both former and incumbent, in the flood control kickbacks scheme.