Garin confronts Rep. Marcoleta during House flood control probe

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker Janette Garin lashed out at colleagues who allegedly raised matters that hindered interpellations during the House of Representatives’ flood control probe — including Sagip party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta — stressing that lawmakers must not lose sight of the inquiry’s goal.

During the House infra-committee hearing on Tuesday, Garin was set to quiz former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan about the process involving proposal of projects up to the crafting of the annual budget, when Sagip party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta made a point of order.

According to Marcoleta, Garin’s question has already been raised by Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice.  But Garin asked what specific House rule was violated when she questioned Bonoan — as a point of order is raised only when rules are breached.

“Mr. Chair, what rule did my question violate?” a visibly irate Garin asked.  “May I appeal to my colleagues, let’s respect each other, when it is your time to ask, you can ask questions, I gave that preliminary question because I am moving to the next question.”

“This is a point of order po,” Marcoleta responded.

“What law did I violate in asking a question Mr. Chair? Can’t I ask questions?  Do I have to inform Congressman Marcoleta of my questions ahead of time?” Garin asked again in a mix of Filipino and English.

When Marcoleta continued to defend his decision to raise a point of order, Garin then asked what the Sagip representative was afraid of with her questions.

“That’s why I’m setting the premise.  Let’s move forward Mr. Chair, time is being wasted while we stop this investigation,” Garin said.

“But if the premise is we’re late already, why do we have to repeat it?” Marcoleta asked.

“Because Mr. Chair, I have my time, I’m laying down my premise.  Ano po ba ang kinakatakutan ni Congressman Marcoleta sa mga katanungan ko?”  Garin fired back, to which Marcoleta said that there was none.  “Then let me proceed Mr. Chair, it’s my time.”

(Because Mr. Chair, I have my time, I’m laying down my premise.  What is Congressman Marcoleta afraid of regarding my questions?)

Infra-committee lead presiding officer and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon eventually ruled that Garin should be given the chance to ask her own questions.

“I think we have to give her the honor of asking the question,” Ridon said.

“Let the Deputy Speaker proceed.  The chair has ruled,” he added.

This is not, however, the first time that Garin was irritated during the course of the hearing.  Over two hours since the infra-committee has started its hearing, interpellations were still bugged by several questions and concerns, particularly on lawmakers’ need to disclose conflict of interest and possibly inviting House members allegedly linked to the flood control mess.

When Bonoan told Erice that only the bicameral conference committee on the 2025 national budget can shed light on realignments, the Caloocan lawmaker has moved to invite former House committee on appropriations chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, and ex-Senate committee on finance head and former senator Grace Poe.

But Garin said the super committee must not lose sight of its goal — to address concerns on faulty control projects and to craft legislation on the matter.

“Mr. Chair, with due courtesy to all my colleagues, a while ago Congressman Chel Diokno and Congressman Leila de Lima said it would not look good if we have a committee investigating our own colleagues.  That’s precisely the reason Mr. Chair why we are all here because of our oversight powers.  Yes, the matter will be addressed by the third-party investigators and if there are cases, let the cases be filed against the personalities,” Garin said.

“I am appealing to our members, let us not divert discussions, the chairmanship of the committee on appropriations has been changed, but issues still remain — me, in studying the 2026 proposed NEP, I saw that flood control projects which were not proposed by field offices were included.  Mr. Chair with due courtesy to my colleagues, yes, we will address the committee on appropriations but for now, we have the officers […] we need to know how this happened,” she added.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco meanwhile questioned why lawmakers were against having their colleagues explain their involvement in issues, noting that it would go against Ridon’s initial pronouncements that the infra-committee would not turn a blind eye on House members or senators’ involvement.

“Does this mean that in these discussions, congressmen are exempted?  So how will we investigate?” Tiangco asked. A brief exchange occurred between Garin and Tiangco after this, forcing Ridon to suspend the hearing.

The spotlight on flood control projects came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s speech during his fourth State of the Nation Address, where he condemned government officials and firms who allegedly earned kickbacks at the expense of people being drenched in floodwaters during the rainy season.

Marcos said these officials and contractors should be ashamed of themselves.

READ: Sona 2025: Marcos on corrupt people in flood control deals: ‘Shame on you’ 

Marcos’ condemnation came after Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson warned that half of the country’s almost P2 trillion funds from 2011 for flood control projects may have been lost already — necessitating a thorough review of the projects.

READ: P1 trillion for flood control likely lost due to graft – Lacson 

Eventually, Marcos released a list of contractors, and observers were quick to establish links between contractors and lawmakers and other politicians like Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senate President Francis Escudero, and former Pasig City mayoral candidate Sara Discaya.

Co has not released a statement, while Escudero claimed that such insinuations are only a “demolition job” against him.  The Senate President however admitted that one of the top contractors mentioned by Marcos in his report was a campaign donor during his 2022 senatorial bid.

READ: Escudero: Pro-impeachment solons behind demolition job 

The House and the Senate are currently conducting their own separate investigations into the matter, while the executive will soon have its own independent flood control probe soon. /jpv