Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero declared on Tuesday that he will not hesitate to sign the arrest warrants for flood control project contractors who would defy the subpoenas issued them.

The owners and presidents of construction firms involved in the substandard and “ghost” or bogus flood control projects are obligated to attend the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 1, Escudero told reporters.

In a report by RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas, subpoenas have been sent after four Metro Manila companies, and more will be sent out to their provincial counterparts tomorrow.

“Sundin ang kautusan ng Senado under pain of arrest. Ang proseso ng Senado ay susundan at susunurin namin, sinuman ang nababanggit doon. So subpoena ito na sana galangin nila, kasi nakalagay naman doon, under pain or penalty of law—at ‘yun ay pag-aresto sa kanila para dumalo sa hearing kung sila’y ‘di susunod sa subpoena ng Senado,” Escudero stressed.

The Senate president said these businessmen and their lawyers are aware of such repercussions and must account for their allegedly fictitious or faulty projects.

“Kinakailangang bigyang-linaw nila itong bagay na ito, at kung hindi nga nila susundin ang subpoena ng Senado, susunod na doon ay arrest warrant na hindi ako magaatubiling pirmahan kung hindi sila pupunta at magpapakita dito sa patawag ng Senado,” he vowed.

Only seven of the 15 contractors accused of cornering the bulk of the government’s flood control projects since 2022 appeared in the previous hearing.

Subsequently, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa moved for the issuance of subpoenas against those who failed to attend, a motion approved by committee chair Senator Rodante Marcoleta.