Skip to content

Flood control plunder · ex-Marines testify under oath

₱149.88B

of a ₱545B flood control budget · 25-30% kickback rate · ₱24.70B recovered so far

Sixty to seventy suitcases per week, 2022 to 2025. ₱20M to ₱70M each. Eighteen ex-Marines testified under oath on June 4 and named the recipients. A sitting senator already in Payatas. A former DPWH secretary on hospital arrest.

That's one slice. Money Trail PH tracks every receipt, every denial, every charge filed, from the Marcos-era plunder cases to today's flood control detentions. Forty years. One ledger.

Huwag kalimutan. Newest first, scroll down to go back.

2026
Marcos-era Setback

Sandiganbayan terminates $5B Marcos civil forfeiture case after PCGG signals no more evidence

Thirty-four years. The Sandiganbayan Special Division on Saturday, June 6, 2026 terminated Civil Case 0141, the $5 billion forfeiture case the Presidential Commission on Good Government had carried against the estate of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Imelda Marcos since December 17, 1991, after the PCGG manifested it would present no further evidence.

Cast in this event

Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Imelda Romualdez Marcos
Sources (2)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

Malolos RTC issues non-bailable arrest warrant against Discaya couple over P53.9M flood project

P53.9M

Calumpit flood control project amount on the malversation information

Arrest warrants out. Eleven defendants. The Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 20 in Malolos on Friday, June 5, 2026 issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II, Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya, and nine others on the malversation through falsification count in the P53.9 million Calumpit flood control case the Office of the Ombudsman filed one day earlier.

Cast in this event

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya
Sources (5)

Read full event

PDAF Setback

Sandiganbayan denies motion to reverse Enrile-Reyes-Napoles acquittal; P172.8M PDAF case final

P172.8M

PDAF kickbacks alleged in the plunder information against Enrile, Reyes and Napoles

₱172.8 million. The Sandiganbayan on Friday, June 5, 2026 denied the prosecution's motion for reconsideration of the October 2024 acquittal of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles in the plunder case over his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations. The court ruled the earlier acquittal final and unappealable, permanently closing the case.

Cast in this event

Juan Ponce Enrile Jessica Lucila "Gigi" Reyes Janet Lim Napoles
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan 5th Division grants Bonoan hospital arrest at PNP General Hospital, denies Medical City transfer

Hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, prostate cancer, severe coronary artery disease. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division released a resolution on Friday, June 5, 2026 placing former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame on the non-bailable P573 million flood control plunder count, denying his motion to be transferred to Medical City and keeping him under PNP-CIDG custody.

Cast in this event

Manuel Bonoan
Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Senate to transfer Curlee Discaya to PNP Camp Crame on June 8 for booking on Bulacan flood control warrant

Camp Crame on Monday. Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Justice Secretary Jonvic Remulla told reporters on Friday, June 5, 2026 that flood control contractor Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II, held in Senate contempt custody since September 2025, will be physically turned over to the Philippine National Police on Monday, June 8 for booking on the Bulacan Regional Trial Court non-bailable malversation warrant issued the same day.

Cast in this event

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II
Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

US cancels Martin Romualdez diplomatic A-1 and B1/B2 tourist visas, PH envoy confirms

Martin Romualdez cannot enter the United States. The US Department of State cancelled the former House Speaker's A-1 diplomatic visa and B1/B2 business and tourist visa weeks before Friday, June 5, 2026, the date Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez confirmed the revocations to Manila reporters.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (4)

Read full event

Marcoleta SOCE Official action

Comelec subpoenas Escudero and Marcoleta donors over undisclosed P75M campaign contributions

Four donors. P75 million between them. The Commission on Elections on Thursday, June 4, 2026 subpoenaed Lawrence Lubiano (an Escudero donor) and three Marcoleta donors, Michael "Mike" Defensor (P30 million), Joseph Espiritu (P25 million), and Aristotle Viray (P20 million), to answer for campaign contributions Comelec investigators say went unreported in the senators' May 2025 SOCEs.

Cast in this event

Rodante Marcoleta Mike Defensor Francis "Chiz" Escudero
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control New allegation Contested

Eighteen ex-Marines testify at Cayetano-bloc Blue Ribbon hearing on 60-70 cash suitcases per week

Sixty to seventy suitcases per week. Each holding P20 million to P70 million. Eighteen retired Marines, most of them former security personnel for ex-Rep. Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co, testified under oath on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at a Cayetano-bloc Senate Blue Ribbon hearing that they hand-delivered cash-filled luggage from 2022 to 2025 to addresses tied to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and others.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control New allegation Contested

NBI says Defensor offered P5M each to silence ex-Marines on flood control suitcase testimony

P5 million per ex-Marine. Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano IV and bureau officials told reporters on Thursday, June 4, 2026 that the National Bureau of Investigation had received information that former Quezon City Representative Michael "Mike" Defensor offered eighteen retired Marines who testified at the Cayetano-bloc Senate Blue Ribbon hearing P5 million each to withdraw their flood control cooperation. Defensor publicly denied the allegation that same day.

Cast in this event

Mike Defensor Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co
Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman charges Discaya couple, eight DPWH officials over P53.9M Calumpit flood project

P53.9M

Calumpit flood control project value cited on the Ombudsman information

P53.9 million. The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation through falsification charges on Thursday, June 4, 2026, against contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, eight former DPWH officials, and former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, after investigators found payments for a Calumpit, Bulacan flood control project were released on an unapproved disbursement voucher.

Cast in this event

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya Henry Alcantara
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Sandiganbayan 2nd Division denies Estrada graft motion to quash, enters not-guilty plea after senator refuses to plead

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said he wished to remain silent. The Sandiganbayan Second Division entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and proceeded with arraignment on Thursday, June 4, 2026, after Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg denied his omnibus motion to quash the graft information tied to the P573 million flood control plunder cluster.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada
Sources (5)

Read full event

Flood control

Sandiganbayan resets Estrada and Bonoan arraignment to June 30; three co-accused plead not guilty

Reset to June 30. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday, June 4, 2026 again moved the arraignment of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in the P573 million flood control plunder case, this time to Monday, June 30, 2026, pending resolution of motions to quash filed by both. Three co-accused district engineers entered not-guilty pleas the same day.

Philippine Daily Inquirer → (home) · 2 more

Flood control Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan denies Romualdez motion to lift precautionary hold-departure order

Still cannot leave the country. The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 denied former House Speaker Martin Romualdez's motion to lift the precautionary hold-departure order docketed as SB26PHDO0002, citing circumstances that suggest a possible intent to evade arrest while the Office of the Ombudsman flood control plunder investigation against him proceeds.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Senate majority declares committee posts vacant, installs Tulfo as Blue Ribbon chair

New chair, contested seat. On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the new Senate majority led by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian declared all committee posts vacant and installed Sen. Erwin Tulfo as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, replacing Sen. Pia Cayetano. The Cayetano bloc rejects the change and says the flood control probe continues under her.

Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control

Sandiganbayan defers Estrada and Bonoan arraignment to June 4

June 4. The Sandiganbayan Second Division reset the arraignment of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on the two flood control graft counts to Thursday, June 4, 2026, citing Estrada's pending Urgent Omnibus Motion at the Fifth Division and Bonoan's hospitalization for hypertension during the June 1 booking.

Rappler → (home) · 2 more

Flood control Official action

Sandiganbayan justice openly questions DOJ immunity granted to Bernardo and Alcantara

"Why then, will the state grant immunity to these people who are the ones inventing this scheme?" Sandiganbayan Third Division Justice Ronald Moreno put the question on the record on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, during the malversation trial of Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., naming former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara.

Cast in this event

Roberto Bernardo Henry Alcantara Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.
Sources (2)

Read full event

Marcoleta SOCE Unverified

Comelec transmits Marcoleta SOCE and election records to Ombudsman

P75 million. The Commission on Elections has handed the Office of the Ombudsman the May 2025 Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta plus the related election records, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia confirmed in a Laguna interview on Monday, June 1, 2026, feeding the plunder and indirect bribery probe over P75 million in undeclared campaign donations.

SunStar → (home) · 1 more

Flood control Legal consequence

Estrada committed to New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Bonoan placed under hospital arrest

P573.0M

Plunder charge value cited in the Sandiganbayan information

General population. 8:15 PM intake. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada walked into the New Quezon City Jail Annex in Payatas on the night of Monday, June 1, 2026 after waiving Senate custody on his P573 million plunder warrant. Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan never made it to booking; his blood pressure spiked to 192/100 and he was placed under hospital arrest at the PNP General Hospital.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (6)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan 5th Division issues plunder arrest warrant vs Estrada and Bonoan

P573.0M

Plunder charge value cited in the Sandiganbayan information

Non-bailable. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday, June 1, 2026, issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan over a P573 million flood control plunder charge, overruling an Urgent Omnibus Motion Ad Cautelam Estrada filed the same morning to defer the warrant and quash the information.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (6)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan issues arrest warrant for Estrada and Bonoan, who post P90,000 graft bail

P90,000 bail, posted on the same afternoon the warrant landed. The Sandiganbayan Second Division on Friday, May 29, 2026, issued an arrest warrant and a hold-departure order against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on the two graft counts; both posted bail hours later. The separate, non-bailable plunder warrant from the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division remains pending.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (5)

Read full event

Flood control

Senate creates Blue Ribbon Subcommittee on flood control under Marcoleta, hearings resume June 4

June 4. That is when Senate Blue Ribbon hearings on flood control resume, this time under a dedicated subcommittee chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced the structure on Friday, May 29, 2026, formalizing a separate evidentiary track inside the chamber even as the subcommittee chair is himself a respondent in a P75 million Ombudsman plunder case.

Manila Bulletin → (home) · 1 more

Flood control New allegation

Ombudsman frames Romualdez as having "functional control" over House appropriations panel

"Functional control." That is the phrase Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano used on Thursday, May 28, 2026, to describe former House Speaker Martin Romualdez's relationship to the House Committee on Appropriations during the years of disputed budget insertions, framing the legal theory the Office of the Ombudsman is building for its planned conspiracy and money laundering cases against him.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Escudero submits counter-affidavit at Ombudsman, denying P586M flood control kickback complaint

P586.0M

Flood control kickback figure cited in the complaint against Escudero

P586 million in alleged flood control kickbacks, denied in writing. Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero submitted his counter-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, May 28, 2026, rejecting the plunder complaint built on former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo's testimony across Valenzuela, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Quezon City project bundles.

Cast in this event

Francis "Chiz" Escudero
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman files plunder, graft, bribery charges vs Jinggoy Estrada, Manuel Bonoan at Sandiganbayan

P355.0M

Bulacan 1st District flood control allocation cited in the affidavit

Plunder, graft, bribery, now before the anti-graft court. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan at the Sandiganbayan on Thursday, May 28, 2026, over an alleged 30 percent cut on a ₱355 million Bulacan flood control allocation.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (4)

Read full event

PhilHealth New allegation

Leachon files supplemental complaint at Ombudsman adding ex-DBM Sec Pangandaman to PhilHealth, PDIC plunder case

P167.00B

PhilHealth reserves and PDIC funds swept into the National Treasury, alleged misuse in the Leachon supplemental complaint adding Pangandaman

Former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, added to the Recto PhilHealth complaint. Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon filed a supplemental pleading at the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, May 28, 2026, impleading Pangandaman on technical malversation, graft, and administrative violations over the ₱167 billion sweep of PhilHealth reserves and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation funds into the National Treasury in 2025.

Cast in this event

Amenah F. Pangandaman
Sources (2)

Read full event

Flood control New allegation

Ombudsman prepares "grand case" vs Romualdez for conspiracy to defraud treasury, plus money laundering

"Conspiracy to defraud the treasury." Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that his office was preparing that case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, alongside a separate money laundering complaint, calling the two a "grand case" and the first of its kind in the country.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman to file plunder, malversation raps vs Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at Sandiganbayan Thursday

P355.0M

Bulacan 1st District flood control allocation cited in the affidavit

Plunder. Malversation. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that his office would file the charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at the Sandiganbayan that Thursday, eight days after the Department of Justice transmitted its preliminary investigation resolution.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (5)

Read full event

Marcoleta SOCE Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan 7th Division grants PHDO vs Marcoleta, Defensor, and 2 donors in P75M SOCE plunder case

Rodante Marcoleta cannot leave the country. Neither can Mike Defensor, Joseph Espiritu, or Aristotle Viray. The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division granted the Office of the Ombudsman's precautionary hold-departure petition on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, against all four respondents in the P75 million SOCE plunder complaint.

Cast in this event

Rodante Marcoleta Mike Defensor
Sources (8)

Read full event

PhilHealth New allegation

Plunder, technical malversation complaint filed at Ombudsman vs ExSec Recto over P167B PhilHealth, PDIC fund sweep

P167.00B

PhilHealth reserves and PDIC funds swept into the National Treasury, alleged misuse in the Leachon complaint

₱60 billion swept out of PhilHealth reserves. ₱107 billion out of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. Both into the National Treasury in 2025. Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon filed a plunder and technical malversation complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman on May 25, 2026, naming Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and the Cabinet officials who signed off.

Cast in this event

Ralph Recto
Sources (9)

Read full event

Marcoleta SOCE Official action

Ombudsman pushes plunder, bribery raps vs Sen. Marcoleta over P75M in undisclosed donations

P75.0M

aggregate undisclosed donations to Marcoleta, charged by the Ombudsman as plunder

₱75 million on three days in January. ₱30 million from former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor, ₱25 million from Joseph Espiritu, ₱20 million from Aristotle Viray, all to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and none disclosed in his SOCE. The Ombudsman's Field Investigation Bureau says that is plunder.

Cast in this event

Rodante Marcoleta Mike Defensor
Sources (11)

Read full event

Farm-to-market Official action

DA files 8 graft, malversation complaints over P94M ghost farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental

P94.0M

agriculture funds for eight ghost farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental

₱94 million for eight farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental. The Department of Agriculture told the Ombudsman the roads were never built and filed eight graft and malversation complaints against six DPWH officials and eight contractors who certified them finished.

Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman flood-control probe of Escudero, Romualdez enters preliminary investigation

P1.40B

flood control budget insertions allegedly arranged for Escudero, per a state witness

₱1.4 billion in budget insertions. A 20 percent cut. Two cash deliveries to a Manila office building. The Office of the Ombudsman moved its flood control probe of Sen. Francis Escudero to preliminary investigation on May 21 and ordered him to file a counter-affidavit. A separate money laundering case against former Speaker Martin Romualdez reached the same stage.

Cast in this event

Francis "Chiz" Escudero Martin Romualdez
Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Tinio asks Ombudsman to probe P4.4B in Davao City 1st District flood control contracts

P4.40B

Davao City 1st District flood control contracts flagged for Ombudsman probe

₱4.4 billion across 80 flagged contracts. ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio asked the Ombudsman on May 19 to investigate flood control projects in Davao City's 1st District: duplicate river sections, the same project funded twice in one budget year, and ₱713 million in work still unfinished years past deadline.

Sources (4)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

DOJ recommends plunder, graft charges vs Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and ex-DPWH chief Bonoan over flood control

P355.0M

Bulacan 1st district allocation cited in affidavit

Plunder. Graft. Direct bribery. The Department of Justice forwarded those recommendations to the Office of the Ombudsman on May 18, naming Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan over the flood control kickback scheme.

Cast in this event

Jinggoy Estrada Manuel Bonoan
Sources (6)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman: 35 to 45 flood-control cases active, second plunder draft in progress

35 to 45 active cases. A 61-page first complaint already filed. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters on May 15 that a second draft, on conspiracy to commit plunder, is in progress and could pull in additional House and Senate members, with AMLC coordination underway on fund tracking.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (5)

Read full event

Flood control

Sandiganbayan affirms graft conviction of two ex-DPWH Region XII officials in P5.3M right-of-way case

₱5.3 million paid out on right-of-way claims for the Cotabato-Surallah National Road where the titled lots never actually changed hands. The Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division denied the motion for reconsideration, sustaining the graft and falsification conviction of two former DPWH Region XII officials and their lifetime ban from public office.

Rappler → (home) · 3 more

Flood control Legal consequence

Court of Appeals freezes assets of Martin Romualdez, wife Yedda, and 2 daughters

A Tamarind Road property in Forbes Park. Bank accounts. Insurance policies. Vehicles. The Court of Appeals froze all of it, naming former Speaker Martin Romualdez, his wife Tingog Sinirangan Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, their two daughters, and fraternity brother Paras, on probable cause for plunder, bribery, graft, and money laundering tied to flood-control kickbacks. The order references testimony from Christopher Esquivel and Gil Natividad Jr., two of the 18 ex-Marines witnesses who alleged delivering multi-billion-peso cash payments to Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez Yedda Marie Romualdez
Sources (2)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan issues precautionary hold-departure order against Romualdez

Martin Romualdez cannot leave the country. The Sandiganbayan granted a precautionary hold-departure order (docketed SB26PHDO0002) in connection with the Ombudsman's plunder complaint filed two days earlier, restricting his exit pending preliminary investigation.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Ombudsman files plunder and graft complaint against Romualdez

P56.00B

total kickbacks alleged

₱56 billion. That is the kickback figure the Office of the Ombudsman put on paper in a plunder and graft complaint against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, across the flood control infrastructure scheme.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control New allegation Contested

Eighteen ex-Marines corroborate Guteza cash-delivery testimony at Club Filipino

Eighteen former Marines appear at Club Filipino in San Juan, presented by counsel Levi Baligod, to corroborate the September 2025 testimony of Orly Guteza regarding cash deliveries to residences associated with named officials in the flood control kickback scheme.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

2025
Flood control New allegation Contested

Ex-Marines witness alleges P1.68B suitcase delivery to Romualdez residence

P1.68B

alleged delivered in cash

Former Marines master sergeant Orly Guteza testifies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, alleging the delivery of approximately P1.68 billion in cash, packed into 35 high-end Rimowa suitcases, to a property in McKinley Forbes Park associated with Martin Romualdez. The testimony is given under oath.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

Martin Romualdez resigns as Speaker of the House

The third most powerful office in the country, vacated. Martin Romualdez resigned as Speaker of the House amid mounting allegations connecting him to flood control kickbacks. He kept his seat as Leyte 1st District representative.

Cast in this event

Martin Romualdez
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Legal consequence

AMLC issues first freeze order; 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies frozen

The Anti-Money Laundering Council issues Freeze Order #1, targeting accounts and policies tied to contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya (St. Timothy / Alpha and Omega), former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara, and others. The order freezes 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies.

Cast in this event

Henry Alcantara
Sources (3)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

President creates Independent Commission on Infrastructure by Executive Order 94

President Marcos Jr. issues Executive Order No. 94 creating the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Sources (2)

Read full event

Flood control Official action

DPWH Secretary Bonoan resigns after confirming ghost flood control projects

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigns. Days earlier he had publicly confirmed that ghost projects existed in Bulacan and pegged contractor Wawao Builders' Bulacan portfolio at approximately P5.97 billion across 85 projects.

Cast in this event

Manuel Bonoan
Sources (3)

Read full event

PDAF Official action

Supreme Court asked to block P26-B AKAP in 2025 national budget as pork barrel

P26.16B

AKAP allocation challenged at the Supreme Court

The 1Sambayan Coalition, with former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales among the petitioners, asked the Supreme Court to block the P26.159 billion Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) lodged in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. The 92-page petition argues AKAP effectively functions as pork barrel because lawmakers identify, endorse, and refer beneficiaries to DSWD, replicating the discretionary-fund structure the Court struck down in the PDAF rulings. The House and Tingog party-list, chaired by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (wife of then-Speaker Martin Romualdez), pushed for AKAP's restoration after the Senate had zeroed it out.

Sources (4)

Read full event

Drug war Legal consequence

Former President Rodrigo Duterte arrested on ICC warrant, transferred to The Hague

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court relating to alleged crimes against humanity arising from the anti-narcotics campaign waged during his administration and earlier as mayor of Davao City. He is transferred to The Hague within days.

Cast in this event

Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Sources (3)

Read full event

2024
POGO Official action

Senate moves to declare ex-Bamban mayor Alice Guo in contempt over POGO ties

The Senate moves to declare former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in contempt amid a probe into her ties to offshore gaming operators and questions about her citizenship and identity. The hearings examine POGO hubs raided for human trafficking and financial-laundering operations.

Cast in this event

Alice Guo
Sources (3)

Read full event

2022
Flood control Official action

New administration takes office; flood control budgets begin sustained growth

P545.00B

cumulative flood control budget 2022-2025

The new administration takes office. Flood control budgets across the DPWH portfolio begin a sustained period of growth that, by 2025, will see line items in select provinces increase several-fold over the previous baseline.

Sources (3)

Read full event

2021
Pharmally Official action

Senate Blue Ribbon opens Pharmally pandemic-procurement inquiry

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee opens public hearings into pandemic procurement contracts awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, examining the firm's capacity to deliver the contracts and the role of presidential adviser Michael Yang.

Cast in this event

Michael Yang
Sources (3)

Read full event

2018
Marcos-era Legal consequence

Sandiganbayan convicts Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division convicts former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos of seven counts of graft for serving as president, member, or trustee of Swiss foundations into which Philippine public funds had been transferred during the Marcos administration.

Cast in this event

Imelda Romualdez Marcos Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
Sources (3)

Read full event

2014
DAP Legal consequence

Supreme Court declares DAP partially unconstitutional in Araullo v Aquino

In Araullo v. Aquino (G.R. No. 209287), the Supreme Court rules that parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program — including the use of unprogrammed funds and the cross-border transfer of executive savings to other constitutional offices — violate the Constitution.

Cast in this event

Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III
Sources (2)

Read full event

2013
PDAF Legal consequence

Supreme Court declares PDAF unconstitutional in Belgica v Executive Secretary

In Belgica v. Executive Secretary (G.R. No. 208566), the Supreme Court declares the Priority Development Assistance Fund mechanism unconstitutional, citing violations of the separation of powers and the constitutional limits on legislative participation in budget execution.

Sources (2)

Read full event

PDAF Official action

Million People March demands abolition of pork barrel after Napoles exposé

P10.00B

alleged diverted via bogus NGOs

Tens of thousands of Filipinos gather at Luneta and in cities nationwide to demand the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund following the Philippine Daily Inquirer exposé of the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam orchestrated by Janet Lim Napoles through bogus non-governmental organizations.

Cast in this event

Janet Lim Napoles
Sources (3)

Read full event

PDAF New allegation

Inquirer publishes investigative series on Napoles and the PDAF scam

P10.00B

alleged diverted via bogus NGOs

The Philippine Daily Inquirer publishes the first installment of an investigative series detailing how Janet Lim Napoles allegedly diverted Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations through a network of bogus non-governmental organizations.

Cast in this event

Janet Lim Napoles
Sources (2)

Read full event

2008
NBN-ZTE New allegation

Lozada testifies on NBN-ZTE deal at Senate

P329.0M

USD contract value

Former NEDA technical consultant Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada testifies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee about the cancelled National Broadband Network contract with China's ZTE Corporation, alleging bribery and describing the role of senior officials in pushing the deal through.

Cast in this event

Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr.
Sources (3)

Read full event

2007
NBN-ZTE New allegation

Jose de Venecia III testifies on NBN-ZTE bribery at Senate

Businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee about an attempted bribe in connection with the National Broadband Network contract awarded to ZTE Corporation, naming senior officials he alleged were involved in pressuring the process.

Cast in this event

Jose "Joey" de Venecia III Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Sources (2)

Read full event

2002
PEA-Amari Legal consequence

Supreme Court strikes down PEA-Amari reclamation deal in Chavez v PEA

The Supreme Court rules in Chavez v. Public Estates Authority (G.R. No. 133250) that the Amended Joint Venture Agreement transferring reclaimed Manila Bay land to Amari Coastal Bay Development Corporation is unconstitutional, citing the constitutional prohibition on transferring alienable public land to private corporations.

Sources (2)

Read full event

1986
Marcos-era Legal consequence

EDSA People Power ends Marcos rule; plunder recovery cases begin

Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. flees Malacañang following the EDSA People Power uprising. The incoming administration establishes the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) by executive order to recover ill-gotten wealth. PCGG cases and Swiss-account proceedings against the Marcos family and cronies continue for decades.

Cast in this event

Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
Sources (3)

Read full event

Scandal explainer · flood-control

How the flood control scheme works

Sworn witnesses describe a kickback architecture with a fixed rate, three skim points in the budget cycle, and cash deliveries in high-end suitcases. The same shape recurs across districts.

25-30%

of the project cost

The kickback rate on flood control projects per witness testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure. Other infrastructure runs at roughly 10 percent.

3

skim points in the budget cycle

  • NEP · 10 percent on the National Expenditure Program
  • GAA · 10-15 percent on appropriation
  • Bicam · 10 percent on bicameral conference

~P48M

per suitcase

Cash moves in high-end Rimowa luggage. Suitcase counts are tracked on Post-it notes. Security details rotate so couriers never grow familiar. Single runs have ranged from P100 million to P1.2 billion.

Appropriation

GAA

P545B over 2022-2025

Implementer

DPWH

9,800+ flood control projects

Awarded to

Contractors

Discayas, Wawao, JSJ, SYMS, others

Returned as

Kickbacks

25-30 percent in cash

To

Officials

Senators, reps, agency heads

Scandal money map · flood-control

Where the P545.00B flood-control budget went

From appropriation to alleged kickback to frozen asset. Box widths are proportional to the documented or alleged amounts.

Appropriation

P545.00B

GAA flood control 2022-2025

Awarded

P545.00B

DPWH contracts to private firms

Alleged kickbacks

P149.88B

at 28% (midpoint of 25-30% sworn band)

Whistleblower estimate (broader)

P805.00B

Lawyer Levi Baligod's estimate of total budget-insertion kickbacks across infrastructure (broader scope than flood control alone).

Recovered so far

P24.70B

AMLC freeze orders to date: 6,692 bank accounts plus insurance policies, vehicles, real estate, and aircraft.

Boxes are illustrative. Exact contractor-level allocations vary by district; the 25-30% kickback rate is the figure given under oath by former DPWH district engineers and undersecretaries.