Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (right) and Rodante Marcoleta. SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Philippine Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday (September 8) confirmed that Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will replace Senator Rodante Marcoleta as chair of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, following a dramatic leadership reshuffle sparked by explosive allegations of kickbacks in government infrastructure projects. The shake-up came hours after flood control contractors Sarah and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya testified before the Senate panel, accusing lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of extorting commissions worth 10 to 25 percent per project from their nine construction firms, which have secured billions of pesos in contracts. “Hindi po iaaward ang project kung hindi ka nagbigay (They would not award the project if you don’t give the kickback first),” Curlee told senators, adding that they were forced to comply to avoid project cancellations. “Paulit-ulit kaming ginamit ng mga opisyal sa sistemang ito (We are repeatedly being used by officials in this system).”

Lawmakers, officials named

Among those implicated were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, Uswag Ilonggo Rep. James “Jojo” Ang, and Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, along with DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo and several regional engineers. View full list of names Curlee alleged that “bagmen” personally collected cash, sometimes in a wine bar in Bonifacio Global City. The accusations triggered swift denials. Romulo called the claims “malicious and fabricated,” saying: “I was never involved in any bidding nor in selecting contractors for DPWH projects.” Atayde also denied any dealings with the Discayas, while his wife, actress Maine Mendoza, branded the allegations “baseless.” Vargas insisted the contractors never had projects in his district and vowed legal action, describing the testimony as “a blatant lie.” Romualdez dismissed the charges as “false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping,” stressing: “I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody.” Other lawmakers and local officials, including Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, and San Jose del Monte Mayor Rida Robes, also denied involvement, denouncing the claims as “demolition jobs” and “cheap shots.” Before relinquishing his role, Marcoleta said the committee will work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine if the Discayas can qualify as state witnesses under Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Senate has also moved to subpoena the couple’s alleged ledger, which purportedly details the flow of kickbacks. Despite the backlash, the Discayas stood firm, saying the alleged payoffs slashed their earnings. “Napilitan kami na i-absorb ang kabawasan na ito,” Curlee explained, noting that they bid for more projects to make up for the losses.

Leadership shake-up

The controversy coincided with a power shift in the Senate. Earlier that day, Sotto reclaimed the Senate presidency from Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was ousted after only a month in office amid criticisms over his handling of flood control issues and an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Escudero’s downfall was also linked to revelations that one of his top campaign donors, contractor Lawrence Lubiano, whose company contributed ₱30 million to his campaign, was among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s list of top contractors flagged for anomalous projects. Escudero denied wrongdoing, saying: “That’s the same innuendo and insinuation that’s always being attached and said just because someone contributed or gave.” Following the vote, Senator Jinggoy Estrada briefly presided over the session before Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri nominated Sotto as Senate President. With no other nominations, Sotto was elected unopposed. Zubiri was then named majority leader, while Lacson took over as Senate President Pro Tempore before being tapped to head the blue ribbon panel. “With Senator Sotto as Senate President, the Senate is in good hands,” Zubiri said. The transition marks Sotto’s return to a familiar post, having served as Senate president from 2018 to 2022. Escudero, meanwhile, has now been ousted twice in just over a year, after toppling Zubiri in May 2024. The Senate’s move to elevate Lacson, a former police general known for his tough stance on corruption, signals a possible tightening of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the alleged multi-billion peso flood control kickback scheme. The committee is expected to continue its hearings in the coming weeks, with mounting pressure to investigate both lawmakers and DPWH officials. ICA/CAM/GAD/Expat Media
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