Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano expressed hope that those involved in the alleged flood control scam would be held accountable, saying genuine reforms are necessary to restore public trust in government and strengthen the country's fight against corruption.
During his Counter-State of the Nation Address (Kontra-SONA) on Tuesday, July 28, Cayetano said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was right to prioritize the issue of flood control in his fifth SONA, describing it as one of the country's biggest corruption controversies.
“Biggest issue of the year 'yan at pinakamalaking skandalo sa corruption in our history. Importante ma-resolve 'yan. Importante malaman ng taong-bayan kung anong nangyayari, anong ginagawa, anong puwedeng gawin, at anong reforms ang puwedeng ipatupad,” Cayetano said.
The senator stressed that resolving the controversy is essential to rebuilding public confidence in government institutions, warning that failure to address the issue would only deepen public suspicion.
“Dapat kasi bumalik ang tiwala sa leaders at sistema. Pag 'yan ay hindi binanggit at hindi inayos, lahat ay suspect,” he said.
Cayetano emphasized that corruption scandals often become defining moments for a nation, serving either as symbols of successful reform or of a government's failure to overcome systemic corruption.
He urged authorities to complete ongoing investigations, prosecute those responsible, and implement lasting reforms to prevent similar irregularities.
As one proposed reform, Cayetano said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should require every infrastructure project to be documented through simple cellphone photographs to help verify project implementation and detect possible "ghost projects."
“Isang simpleng suggestion na binigay ko sa DPWH... ordinaryong cellphone, kunan lahat ng projects para makita kung may ghost o wala. One year later, ang problema, hindi pa kumpleto ang data,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Cayetano expressed optimism that the country can overcome corruption if reforms are pursued consistently.
“Walang bansa sa mundo na hindi dumaan sa corruption. At walang bansa na umunlad na hindi niya kahit papano na-address ang corruption,” he said.
