Senate probe on ‘grandmother of all scams’ start

Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate on Tuesday began its inquiry into the P111-billion President’s Bridge Program allegedly implemented with irregularities during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo.

Former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, former NEDA director-general Romulo Neri, and other former and incumbent government officials were present when the probe by the Senate blue ribbon and the public works committees began a little past 10am.

The investigation was initiated by Senator Sergio Osmeña III, who branded the program as “the grandmother of all scams” under the Arroyo administration.

Osmeña said the P111 billion was the total amount of 14 bridge contracts that were misrepresented “as having been funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) concessional financing from such countries as the United Kingdom and France.”