PASAY CITY—The Senate took a decisive stand against corruption on May 5, as it reviewed a hard-hitting progress report on the multi-billion-peso flood control scam. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson presented the findings during a plenary session, detailing the results of seven exhaustive public hearings. 

The chamber reaffirmed its dedication to uncovering the full extent of the controversy, promising to scrutinize every detail of the alleged "systemic rot" within the nation’s infrastructure projects.

In a revealing privilege speech, Lacson broke down the "anatomy" of the scam, comparing it to a mutated and more complex version of the infamous 2013 PDAF Scam. 

He identified three critical dimensions of the fraud: the specific actors involved, the sophisticated mechanisms used to siphon funds, and an institutionalized workflow that allowed corruption to thrive. 

Lacson emphasized that the report is a vital step toward justice for millions of Filipinos who suffer through devastating floods while public funds are allegedly being diverted.

“This Chairman’s Report is a decisive step forward. We owe it to the witnesses who spoke up, to the experts who provided evidence, and most importantly, to the millions of Filipinos who find themselves neck-deep in floodwaters every time a storm hits,” the Senator said in his privilege speech.

While the chamber moved to adopt the progress report, some senators pushed for an even broader investigation. 

Senator Erwin Tulfo, who signed the partial committee report, urged his colleagues to expand the probe to ensure no one escapes accountability. 

Tulfo argued that the public expects more than "partial truths," demanding a pursuit of justice that is neither selective nor negotiable. 

“Our people are watching. They expect us to rise above partial truths and incomplete accountability. They expect us to pursue justice without fear or favor. Let us instead affirm that in this Chamber, justice is neither selective nor negotiable,” the Senator argued.

His call for a wider net suggests that more high-profile names and agencies may soon find themselves under the Senate's microscope.

The investigation remains a high-priority legislative effort as the Senate seeks to turn these findings into permanent reforms. 

By exposing the institutional loopholes that allowed the flood control budget to be compromised, lawmakers aim to dismantle the machinery of corruption once and for all. 

As the probe continues, the Senate remains focused on a singular goal: ensuring that taxpayer money actually goes toward protecting citizens from rising waters rather than lining the pockets of corrupt officials.

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