Sen. Risa Hontiveros Issues Challenge to Marco Jr. on Lifestyle Check Order among Gov’t Officials
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Senator challenged President Bongbong Marcos to show his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN as a “good example” for his lifestyle check order.
Marcos Jr. was greatly disappointed by several “ghost” and “substandard” projects for flood control in the different areas across the nation. Previously, in a press conference, the President flagged 15 contractors of government flood control deals which secured 20% of the total flood control deals of the country from July 2022 to May 2025.
During a press con, Marcos Jr. revealed that the Philippine government has already spent over P500 billion in flood control projects. According to the Chief Executive, 20% of the total P545-billion spent on the government flood control deals went to the following contractors:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
Amid the issue on the flood control projects in the Philippines, the Senate launched its own investigation which is led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Senator Rodante Marcoleta already warned the contractors to reveal the public officials who are receiving money from them.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also approved the subpoena for the flood control project contractors who ditched the first Senate hearing. The following are mandated to attend the next Senate flood probe on September 1:
- Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, President of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Ms. Cezarah C. Discaya, President of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
- Mr. Lawrence R. Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, President of Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan, authorized managing officer of MG Samidan Construction
- Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, President of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Ms. Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando. President of St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, President/CEO of Sunwest, Inc.
- Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, President of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager of Wawao Builders
Amid the controversy, Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered a “lifestyle check” among all government officials and it will begin with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) officials and all involved in the anomalous flood control deals. It warned different reactions from the government officials including Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros challenged Pres. Bongbong Marcos to show his own SALN as a good example and leadership for his order among the government officials for a “lifestyle check”.
“Kung nag-utos si Presidente ng lifestyle check, magandang halimbawa at pagkakakita rin ng pamumuno kung kasamang ibubunyag ang kanyang SALN,” the Senator said.
Based on a post, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros also expressed that the “lifestyle check” is one way to restore the public trust amid the issue of allegedly anomalous flood control deals funded by the government. According to her, such order already happened before.
“Tingin ko walang problema sa batas sa ganong utos ni Presidente siguro ang unang tanong lang ay sino ang magsasagawa pero isa lang naman ito sa maraming pwedeng at dapat gawin alang-alang sa pagpapakita ng good faith sa ating publiko lalo’t ngayong panahon na ang tindi muli ng issue ng korapsyon lalo na dahil dito sa flood control projects,” Hontiveros expressed.
When asked about the officials of the DPWH being the first target of the order of Marcos Jr. for a “lifestyle check”, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said we will just wait for the outcome. Based on the post, she stressed that the lifestyle check should be “objective”.
“Tingnan natin kung sino ang papasa o kung sino ang lalagpak diyan,” the Senate Deputy Minority Leader said.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also reacted to the “lifestyle check” order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos among the government officials.