In a press conference last January 20, 2026, Senators Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta raised concerns over how the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) is handling the investigation.
The concerns raised by Marcos and Marcoleta are detailed in a 103-page minority report, outlining observations, missed leads, and recommendations to strengthen the investigation.
Missing The Point
More than two months after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended filing charges against key figures in the flood control scandal, Senator Imee Marcos stated that the hearings instead largely concentrated on contractors, lower-level officials, and intermediaries, while broader lines of inquiry remain unexplored.
She further noted that the BRC has sometimes appeared to divert attention from certain directions suggested by witness testimonies, leaving gaps in accountability.
“There’s always something missing. It’s always being stopped. Whether on purpose or by mistake, it really stops,” she stated.
Marcoleta echoed these concerns, noting that the committee has not fully followed up on key testimony from multiple public hearings.
The Enigma of 30 Tamarind Street
In addition, another recurring mystery in past hearings is a property located at 30 Tamarind Street in South Forbes Park, which witnesses have fervently identified as a “drop-off point” for substantial funds.
One of the key points the two senators drives down is that despite the property's prominence in previous testimonies, the committee has not examined essential questions about its ownership, leases, or documents that could clarify its connection to the alleged transactions.
Moreover, they indicated that the line of questioning abruptly ended once certain names surfaced, leaving a very critical lead unresolved.
Calls for a Comprehensive Review
The senators argue that the inquiry must go beyond contractors and intermediaries to fully map the flow of funds and accountability, ensuring a thorough, impartial, and fearless probe.
They further warned that without proper follow-up, key details in the flood control scandal will remain wholly unknown, leaving the public with an incomplete understanding of the alleged anomalies - or worse.
