SEN. Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday that the government’s drive against corruption is still wanting improvement one year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told corrupt officials “Mahiya naman kayo (Have some shame)” during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Lacson added that the government’s progress would have been minimal had it not been for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s rigorous probe into the flood control scam involving officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, private contractors and wayward politicians. ”Without sounding immodest or arrogant, if not for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation during my watch, which was preceded by my two privilege speeches, where we unearthed material pieces of evidence, both documentary and testimonial; and without the firm determination and resoluteness of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla, I don’t know how the government can even claim whatever accomplishments we have at the moment, or one year after that SONA ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ remark,” Lacson said. He credited the media and the public for sustaining pressure on authorities to pursue accountability. “The media and netizens should also be credited for generating public anger and awareness that abuse of public funds can no longer be taken for granted, as exemplified by the Trillion Peso March and other related activities,” the senator added. Lacson said that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee played a pivotal role in exposing the alleged irregularities and vowed to continue defending its work despite criticism. “Despite the usual criticisms and obvious politically motivated acts, I will stand firm on the Blue Ribbon Committee’s role in whatever accomplishments we have,” he said. The senator first exposed the alleged corruption in flood control projects through a privilege speech in August 2025, where he presented evidence pointing to anomalous and allegedly ghost flood control projects. He followed this in September 2025 with another privilege speech focusing on the so-called BGC Boys, whom he accused of manipulating procurement and administrative procedures to facilitate the alleged anomalies. Rather than referring to the upscale business district Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Lacson clarified that the acronym stands for the “Bulacan Group of Contractors.” In May this year, Lacson presented the Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman’s Progress Report, which outlined documentary and testimonial evidence gathered by the panel. The report also recommended legal and administrative actions against those allegedly involved in what Lacson described as “systemic, parasitic greed” in the implementation of flood control projects. According to Lacson, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has since transmitted its findings and evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ has subsequently filed charges against several individuals in connection with the alleged anomalies.The issue gained national attention following President Marcos’ 2025 SONA, where he publicly condemned corruption in infrastructure spending and warned officials involved in anomalous flood control projects, saying, “Mahiya naman kayo.”
