House summons Poe, Co over P1 trillion flood control budget insertions

The House Infrastructure Committee has summoned Senator Grace Poe and former Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co to explain alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

The investigation stems from the discovery of P1 trillion worth of budget insertions for flood control projects across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 national budgets.

Co, now in the United States for medical treatment, denied allegations that he proposed P13.8 billion in insertions for flood control and other infrastructure in the 2025 budget.

House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno initially linked Poe to the final draft of the 2025 spending plan but later apologized, stating she was not allowed to participate in bicameral conference committee deliberations.

Puno suggested that the process of determining accountability on changes between budget bills approved by each house and the final version sent to the President should continue in the Senate.