Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Approves Issuance of Subpoena for Contractors Who Failed To Attend Senate Flood Hearing
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President signed the subpoena for the flood control project contractors who skipped the Senate probe.
Several flood control projects across the nation have become the center of controversy now. Pres. Bongbong Marcos was greatly disappointed following the discovery of “ghost” flood control projects as well as structures that were either incomplete or made with substandard materials.
In Bulacan, Pres. Bongbong Marcos was left “not disappointed but angry” by the over P55-million ‘ghost’ Riverwall project that was reportedly fully-paid based on the receipts. In the same province, the President also found a flood control project that was made of substandard materials and is incomplete.
Marcos Jr. called out the contractor of the said flood control project, the St. Timothy Construction. According to him, they hired divers and it was found that the cement was too thin. The contractors was one of the 15 contractors previously flagged by the President during a press conference:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
According to Marcos Jr., the above-mentioned 15 flood control project contractors were awarded with 20% of the total flood control deals of the government from July 2022 to May 2025. The President revealed that the country has spent P545-billion already for the flood control projects.
Furthermore, Pres. Marcos also revealed that five (5) contractors which are listed below have flood control projects in almost all regions across the nation. He assured that an investigation will be conducted by his administration.
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
Despite the name of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero being dragged into the issue, the Senate confirmed that they will investigate the flood control project issues. Previously, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero admitted to receiving P30 million-campaign donation from one flood control project contractor, the Centerways Construction.
Escudero claimed that the owner of Centerways Construction is a long-time friend of his and is from Sorsogon. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate President signed all the subpoena requests of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for all the contractors:
- Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, President of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Ms. Cezarah C. Discaya, President of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
- Mr. Lawrence R. Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, President of Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan, authorized managing officer of MG Samidan Construction
- Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, President of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Ms. Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando. President of St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, President/CEO of Sunwest, Inc.
- Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, President of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager of Wawao Builders
However, based on the report, out of the 11 contractors who responded to the invitation, only seven (7) of them were represented during the first Senate flood probe. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada moved for the issuance of subpoena to all the contractors who skipped the first Senate hearing and Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero signed it.
According to Estrada, he will move for the arrest of the contractors who will skip the next Senate flood hearing again and those who will give unacceptable excuses. Previously, following the admission of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the Commission on Elections or Comelec spoke on campaign donations for election candidates.