Senator Bam Aquino has issued a stern challenge to government agencies to resolve the gargantuan flood control anomalies now or face the collective judgment of a public that has not forgotten last year’s devastating floods return to haunt communities nationwide.
In his manifestation during the latest Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing this Monday,
the senator underscored that the “flood control issue” is far from being a distant memory. With the rainy season beginning to drench Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and other flood prone communities, he warned that the weather itself serves as an unforgiving reminder of the unaddressed corruption that has plagued the nation.
“Hindi po nakakalimutan ang flood control… Dahil meron pong magpapaalala sa atin ng flood control: ang panahon. Kapag bumabaha na po sa buong kapuluan, maaalala ng tao itong issue na ito at iisipin nila, mayroon bang nangyari?” he said.
He urged the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)and the Office of the Ombudsman to act with renewed urgency. He noted that the upcoming one-year anniversary of the presidential call in his State of the Nation Addres (SONA), regarding the issue is fast approaching and it is imperative that the “big fish” behind what he described as “one of the largest thefts in our nation’s history” are finally brought to justice.
“Mag-iisang taon na po yan, next month na po yan. Kaya wag na po nating paabutin ng isang taon, na yung pinakamalalaking isda ay hindi po nahuhuli. At sana po gawin po natin yan na wala ho tayong kinikilingan. We follow the law, we follow where the evidence lead us, at gawin ho natin yung nararapat.”
“mahalaga po na seryosohin natin ito, isa po ito sa pinakamalaking nakawan sa buong kasaysayan ng bansa,” Aquino said.
He demand for accountability was matched by a call for empathy and immediate action in the face of new disasters. Aquino pivoted to the recent earthquake in Mindanao, highlighting the immediate need to secure learning environments for children.
“Napakarami pong issue, napakarami pong krisis. Ngayon lang po, nagkaroon ng earthquake sa Mindanao, at marami ho sa amin—pagkatapos ng hearing na ito—ay aaksyunan na rin po ang iba’t ibang pwedeng gawin doon,” he said.
With the opening of classes approaching, Aquino stressed that the safety of students and the rehabilitation of damaged classrooms must be a top priority. He drew a parallel between the “wounds” left by unaddressed corruption and the physical trauma caused by the earthquake, asserting that both require swift, decisive government intervention.
Addressing the 18 elusive bodyguards who have yet to face the committee, Aquino reiterated the importance of transitioning these meetings into formal under-oath hearings.
Marami ho tayong tanong, at ang mga tanong natin ay para po sa 18 bodyguards na hinihikayat pa rin po nating mag-attend dito po sa ating meeting. Eventually, magiging hearing po ito at under oath, mapaguusapan po yung kanilang sinasabi at malalaman po natin ang katotohanan,” he added.
Finally, Aquino contends that true empowerment requires the government to prove that the law applies to everyone, especially the architects of systemic corruption. He maintains that the future of Filipinos must never be sacrificed to protect those who exploit public trust.
