Former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Greco Belgica has called for the inclusion of former Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo in ongoing flood control investigations and budget hearings, saying her testimony is crucial in clarifying alleged anomalies linked to the 2025 national budget.
Belgica stressed that Quimbo played a key role during the budget deliberations, having served as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations and as a member of the bicameral conference committee. She later assumed the post of committee chairperson following the resignation of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Quimbo was also part of the so-called small committee, where alleged insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) were reportedly made.
“Why is Stella Quimbo absent from the flood control investigations and budget hearing? The ‘blank items’ in the 2025 GAA and the diversion of billions in flood control funds happened on her watch,” Belgica said in a statement.
“These funds, meant for Metro Manila flood projects, went to unspecified district initiatives instead. This budget has been labeled the most corrupt ever. Her voice is critical to the investigation,” he added.
Belgica’s remarks came amid renewed scrutiny over flood control allocations following earlier statements by former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who publicly identified former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Quimbo as alleged masterminds behind anomalous flood control projects.
Bello criticized the focus of investigations on contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, while, according to him, congressional leaders who allegedly orchestrated the scheme have been left out.
“Who do you think is the mastermind in this scam? Zaldy Co lang ito? Speaker (Romualdez) and iyong si Stella Quimbo. Iyan ang mga mastermind diyan,” Bello said in an interview.
Based on available records, Quimbo had four infrastructure projects in her district. She also allocated ₱950 million for the transformation of Marikina Polytechnic College into a “Smart Campus,” a project awarded to Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, a company reportedly linked to Co.