Senate President Tito Sotto clarified that the Senate is not discussing or preparing for the possible indictment or arrest of any senator linked to the flood control scam before December 15.
Responding to speculation about imminent law enforcement action, Sotto said, “As a Senate, we haven’t talked about it,” noting that the chamber has received no communication indicating impending arrests.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla previously confirmed that arrest warrants could be issued as early as December 15 for Senators Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and former senators Bong Revilla and now-Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, over alleged corruption in flood control projects.
He added that former senators Grace Poe and now-DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara are also under investigation. Remulla stressed that the Office of the Ombudsman will present cases to the courts for any individual with sufficient evidence.
Sotto said it would be premature for the Senate to make preparations, such as security coordination, ahead of any arrest orders.
“No, I can’t prepare anything. What can I do?” he said, emphasizing that criminal complaints and arrest orders fall under the courts and law enforcement, not Senate leadership.
The Senate collaborates with the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, or the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) only when a court order is issued.
Sotto underscored that the chamber remains focused on legislative priorities, particularly ratifying the bicameral conference committee report on the 2026 national budget, aiming for transmission to Malacañang before Christmas to avoid a reenacted budget on January 1, 2026.