1Sambayan's Calleja Vows to Push for Accountability in Flood Control Probe

In a recent ANC 24/7 interview on "Beyond the Exchange" with veteran anchor Rico Hizon, 1Sambayan Convenor Atty. Howard Calleja laid out the coalition's roadmap for accountability, warning that they will call on the President and the judiciary if the flood control corruption probe fails to deliver real justice. The conversation, which aired in the 88th episode of the program, comes at a critical juncture for the Philippines — with a historic impeachment trial underway, a landmark corruption case moving through the courts, and the 2028 elections already shaping political calculations.

1Sambayan Vows to Push for Accountability as Flood Control Probe, Impeachment Trial, and 2028 Elections Converge

Manila, Philippines – August 2026 — Atty. Howard Calleja, convenor of the political coalition 1Sambayan, told ANC 24/7's Rico Hizon that the group is closely monitoring the flood control corruption probe and will not hesitate to call on the President and the judiciary if there is no real accountability. The interview, which premiered on August 15, 2026, covered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address, the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, and the coalition's preparations for the 2028 presidential elections.

The Flood Control Probe — A Year of Promises, Partial Progress

Calleja's warning — captured in the Tagalog phrase "Sisingilin namin" (We will make them pay) — reflects a growing impatience with the pace of the investigation into ghost flood control projects that have left communities vulnerable to devastating floods. The probe began in earnest on August 20, 2025, when President Marcos personally inspected a P55.7-million "ghost" flood control project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan — a 220-meter concrete river wall that was recorded as completed but had nothing built on the ground.

"I'm not disappointed, I'm angry," Marcos said at the time, ordering an investigation and charges for falsification and economic sabotage. A year later, GMA News Research reported on July 28, 2026, that 45 individuals and only 2 of the Top 15 contracting firms have been charged in 26 cases filed in court. The first case reached the Sandiganbayan on November 18, 2025, targeting former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Zaldy Co — who remains at large — along with DPWH Mimaropa Regional Director Gerald Pacanan and officers of Sunwest Corp., over a P289-million alleged ghost flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Calleja acknowledged the progress but expressed frustration. "Nababagalan tayo" (We are being slowed down), he said, noting that while some officials have already been charged and jailed since Marcos opened the issue last year, the coalition is hopeful for more momentum. The Anti-Money Laundering Council has frozen 135 bank accounts and 27 insurance policies tied to the scheme, with frozen assets reaching P13 billion — a significant step, but one that Calleja suggests is only the beginning.

Philippine Context — A System Under Scrutiny

The flood control scandal has exposed deep structural problems in how public works funds are allocated and monitored. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla acknowledged on July 17, 2026, that only a small percentage of those involved have been charged so far, citing difficulties in obtaining records from the Bicameral Conference Committee — the powerful legislative body where final budget figures are negotiated behind closed doors.

The stakes escalated dramatically on August 12, 2026, when former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan told the Sandiganbayan that every senator received at least P500 million in "leadership funds" under the DPWH budget for fiscal year 2025, with committee chairs potentially receiving at least P1 billion. Bonoan mentioned a P24-billion "leadership fund" for 19th Congress senators, triggering an immediate backlash. Senator Bong Go told Bonoan to "defend yourself, don't drag us into your mess" — a telling exchange that underscores how deeply the scandal has penetrated the political establishment.

Four lawmakers now face cases: Zaldy Co, former senator Bong Revilla, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and USWAG Ilonggo Partylist Representative James "Jojo" Ang Jr. The Sandiganbayan ordered a 90-day preventive suspension of Senator Estrada on June 16, 2026, over his flood control graft case. State witnesses include contractor Sally Santos, who admitted using her license for 42 projects worth P1.8 billion and pocketing P80 million, as well as former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and several former regional and district engineering officials.

Impact on Filipinos — The Human Cost of Corruption

The corruption probe is not an abstract legal exercise — it is a matter of life and death for millions of Filipinos. In recent days, dozens have died as the southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat, and cyclones battered the Philippines, reinforcing the human cost of the flood control failure. When flood control projects exist only on paper, it is the residents of low-lying barangays in Bulacan, Oriental Mindoro, and other flood-prone areas who pay the ultimate price.

The 2027 national budget, submitted on August 11, 2026, allocates only P107.4 billion for DPWH flood control — the lowest since 2019 and less than a third of the P350 billion allocated in 2025. This year, flood control received zero funding. The MMDA flood control program gets P3.41 billion. While Senate finance committee chair Senator JV Ejercito backs the resumption of select flood-control projects and vows an end to bicam insertions, the reduced allocation raises questions about whether the government is serious about preventing future disasters.

For ordinary Filipinos, the connection is direct: every peso stolen from flood control is a family left unprotected when the rains come. The proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 — about 6% higher than 2026's P6.793 trillion — prioritizes education with P1.314 trillion, but the flood control cuts suggest that infrastructure resilience remains a secondary concern despite the recent tragedies.

Reactions and Responses — Marcos' SONA and the Impeachment Trial

Calleja told ANC 24/7 that 1Sambayan is thankful President Marcos tackled corruption first in his fifth SONA on July 27, 2026. In his one-hour-26-minute address, Marcos opened with the corruption probe, announcing that the Ombudsman is set to file charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez over possible plunder, direct and indirect bribery, and money laundering. "Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay Pangulo ng Pilipinas," Marcos declared — a statement Calleja welcomed as a signal of intent.

Notably, Marcos did not mention Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial in his SONA. The trial, which began July 6, 2026, at the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court, is historic — Duterte is the first vice president impeached and the first to be impeached twice, with the second impeachment occurring on May 11, 2026. The charges include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption. The trial is expected to last 92 days, making it the longest in Philippine history, with Article 1 focusing on alleged malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.

Calleja noted that President Marcos was mindful of the legal and factual basis in releasing Vice President Duterte's tax records. On July 30, 2026, the Bureau of Internal Revenue turned over the tax records of Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, to the Senate impeachment court after Marcos approved the release — removing the last executive authorization needed. The Supreme Court dismissed as moot the consolidated petitions filed by Duterte on August 5, 2026.

The trial has not been without controversy. A prosecution spokesperson said on August 10, 2026, that defense actions — including checking documents — are delaying the trial, whether deliberate or not. The prosecution has also called out Duterte's "selective attendance," noting she attended for her brother Pulong but not for her own trial days. Meanwhile, on August 11, 2026, the Department of Justice filed a grave threats case against Duterte before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court over her November 2024 remarks that she had arranged for someone to kill Marcos, his wife, and Speaker Romualdez if she herself were killed. Defense counsel Lawrence Lim said she will exhaust all legal remedies, and her camp wants the case quashed.

1Sambayan's Broader Agenda — Watching All Governance Cases

Calleja emphasized that 1Sambayan is watching other governance cases, not just flood control. The coalition, founded in March 2021 by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, has positioned itself as a watchdog for democratic governance. Its convenors include Carpio, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Albert del Rosario, Brother Armin Luistro, Loretta Rosales, Father Albert Alejo, retired Admiral Rommel Ong, Calleja, Neri Colmenares, and Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela.

In November 2025, Calleja argued that fighting corruption and political dynasties should be the main battle cry in the 2028 presidential elections. He has urged Marcos to push for an anti-dynasty bill to make it his legacy. The coalition has also been vocal on other issues — Calleja previously said that flood control officials, not PNP chief General Nicolas Torre III, should have been the ones relieved, signaling that 1Sambayan is willing to challenge the administration's priorities.

What to Watch For

The coming months will be decisive. The impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte is expected to conclude within its projected 92-day timeline, with the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court. The flood control cases will continue to move through the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts, with the Ombudsman hiring new teams through August and September to accelerate the investigation. The question of whether former DPWH Secretary Bonoan will be discharged as a state witness — prosecutors have asked for this — could dramatically expand the scope of the probe.

The 2027 budget deliberations will also be closely watched, particularly whether the bicameral conference committee process can be reformed to prevent the kind of insertions that enabled the flood control scam. Senator Ejercito's promise to end bicam insertions will be tested in the coming weeks. And with the 2028 presidential elections already on the horizon, 1Sambayan's positioning — and Calleja's insistence on accountability — will shape the political landscape.

For Filipino families who lost loved ones to floods this year, and for the millions who live in constant fear of the next typhoon, the outcome of these cases is not abstract politics. It is a question of whether the government can deliver on its most basic promise: to protect its citizens. As Calleja told ANC 24/7, the coalition will make sure that promise is kept — or that those who broke it will pay.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.