Sworn affidavits accusing Sen. Legarda of kickbacks in flood-control scam remain with Ombudsman

Two of the 18 men who earlier accused a senator of taking kickbacks in a flood control project withdrew that part of their account on Monday. Their lawyer said the men had not actually seen cash delivered to the senator and had not seen the senator herself.

The group and their lawyer held the press conference at the office of another senator instead of appearing before the Senate blue ribbon committee. The lawyer stated that the men only observed a former lawmaker enter the senator’s residence and that two suitcases prepared for delivery were never handed over.

Background on the original allegations The 18 men had submitted a joint affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman that named both senators in connection with the flood control matter. At a June 4 hearing conducted by a different Senate group, the men did not mention either senator during their testimony.

The lawyer said the two men learned of the error in March 2026 after a media interview and later signed a written correction. The affidavit on file with the Ombudsman has not yet been updated to reflect the change.

Claims that remain unchanged The men continued to assert that seven suitcases containing cash were delivered in 2022 to a residence in Daang Hari, Portofino South, Las Piñas City. They maintained that the recipient was the second senator, though they again said they did not personally see him.

The lawyer added that the group would attend a blue ribbon committee hearing only if its chairperson steps aside from the proceedings. The men had previously accused several senators of receiving kickbacks, an allegation those senators have denied.