Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has called for a dual approach of “retribution and restitution” to hold accountable officials and contractors involved in alleged ghost flood control projects uncovered between 2023 and 2025. He said this strategy could enable the government to recover up to ₱26 billion in misused public funds.
According to findings from a joint investigation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, around 421 out of 8,000 inspected flood control projects—worth an estimated ₱629 billion—were found to be nonexistent despite being paid for.
Lacson proposed that those convicted could return a significant portion of the illicit funds through plea bargaining in exchange for reduced sentences. “If those responsible return even 80 percent of what they took, the Filipino people could recover at least ₱26 billion,” he said.
He added that the same principle should be applied to other large-scale infrastructure anomalies, emphasizing that accountability, restitution, and justice are essential to restoring public trust and protecting taxpayers’ money.
Lacson Urges “Retribution and Restitution” to Recover ₱26B from Fake Flood Control Projects
