Amiel Roldan blog

The Investigation Limited to Three Districts of Bulacan  The motu proprio inquiries into anomalous flood control projects were initially national in scope but have, in practice, concentrated investigative energy on discrete geographic nodes where alleged irregularities are most glaring. Limiting the current investigative mandate to three districts of Bulacan constitutes a strategic narrowing of focus that both constrains and concentrates the inquiry’s ethical and forensic possibilities. Bulacan’s towns and river systems have featured repeatedly in public hearings and site inspections that revealed apparent ghost projects, absent infrastructure, and overlapping contract allocations—facts that have animated legislative and executive responses in recent weeks. This localized limitation affords the investigative body the operational clarity to pursue documentary chains, financial trails, and material verifications within a bounded field site, while also producing political and symbolic...

Ghost Flood Projects and the Ethics of Oversight: Analyzing the Premises of the Senate Investigation and the Chairman’s Public Judgement  Introduction  The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into ghost flood control projects in the Philippines has revealed extensive irregularities in infrastructure procurement, implementation, and oversight. These anomalies—ranging from non-existent construction sites to questionable contractor practices—have prompted scrutiny not only of the implicated agencies and firms but also of the conduct and public statements of the committee’s chairman. This essay examines the structural premises of the investigation, the nature of the anomalies uncovered, and the implications of the chairman’s media engagements, particularly the concern that his public opinions may influence or manipulate the committee’s judgment. It argues that the conflation of personal commentary and institutional authority risks compromising the integrity of the investi...

  Repatriating Accountability: The Case for International Legal Cooperation in the Prosecution of Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez  September 23, 2025 Abstract  This essay argues for the urgent repatriation of Filipino lawmakers Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez to face litigation in the Philippines over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects and budgetary manipulations. Drawing from recent developments in Philippine legislative politics, whistleblower testimonies, and international legal frameworks, the essay outlines a strategic pathway for leveraging Interpol's resources to facilitate cross-border cooperation, asset tracing, and money laundering investigations. It situates the case within broader discourses on postcolonial governance, transnational accountability, and the operationalization of justice in the Global South.  ---  I. Introduction: Ghost Projects and the Specter of Impunity  The Philippine political landscape has once again b...

Time Frame for Presidential Turnover Anchored in Accountability and Justice  This proposed timeline spans 18 months, beginning with civic rupture and culminating in a justice-oriented transition of power. It integrates legal, institutional, and cultural processes to ensure that the turnover is not symbolic but transformative.  ---  Phase 1: Civic Reckoning and Institutional Exposure (Months 1–3)  Objective: Surface systemic corruption, establish public consensus, and initiate legal inquiry.  - Weeks 1–4:     - Formal documentation of deaths and injuries from the September 21 rally.     - Independent forensic and legal teams begin investigations into state negligence and budgetary anomalies.     - Survivors, families, and civil society groups form a coalition for truth and justice.  - Month 2:     - Congressional hearings on flood control corruption and budget inflation.     - Release...