Sen. Kiko Pangilinan responds to LandBank Employee’s open letter on ₱457-M cash release

Published 2 Oct 2025 at 5:00 PM

by Stacy dela Fuente

3 min read

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan questioned LandBank’s release of ₱457 million in cash to SYSM Construction within two days, amid a DPWH flood control scandal
LandBank employee Bernadette Zamora wrote an open letter urging the senator not to blame the bank, stressing employees are also taxpayers hurt by corruption
Pangilinan replied that corruption is systemic, and government banks are part of the system that must be scrutinized and reformed
He requested LandBank Malolos to release SYSM’s transaction records, citing a depositor waiver, to aid the Senate probe into the alleged multibillion scam

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Senator Kiko Pangilinan has responded to an open letter posted by Bernadette Zamora, a LandBank employee, who criticized what she described as his “repeated criticisms” of the state-run bank amid Senate hearings on the ₱457-million cash release to SYSM Construction.

The controversy stems from revelations at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 25, where LandBank Malolos branch head Ma. Lilibeth Lim confirmed releasing nearly half a billion pesos in cash to the contractor within two days.

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SYSM Construction, owned by Sally Santos, has been linked to alleged anomalies in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects.

In her letter, Zamora urged Pangilinan not to blame the bank, noting that employees also suffer from the effects of corruption.

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“We, too, are taxpayers… Would it not be more fruitful to turn our eyes to the real problem, instead of placing blame on a bank that performs only what the law and mandated procedures require?” she wrote, adding that reforms should focus on fixing “broken systems” that allow abuse.

Pangilinan, in his detailed reply, clarified he was not singling out LandBank but questioning systemic lapses that allow questionable withdrawals.

“It is very difficult to defend the release of such a huge amount of money in cash from the coffers of government in a 48-hour period,” he wrote.

He also stressed that focusing only on “big fish” is insufficient, since corruption is systemic and banks are part of the process that must be reformed.

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The senator further requested LandBank Malolos to turn over documents related to SYSM Construction’s transactions, citing Santos’ waiver of bank secrecy.

“I am focused on ferreting out the whole truth,” Pangilinan said, emphasizing accountability in what he called one of the country’s largest corruption scandals.

Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is a well-known politician in the Philippines. He became prominent because of his advocacy for agricultural reform, youth, and justice. One of his major contributions is being the principal author of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, which aims to provide protection and opportunities for young people in conflict with the law. He is also known for promoting programs that support farmers and fisherfolk to improve agriculture in the country. Aside from his political career, Kiko is also widely recognized by the public as the husband of veteran actress and TV host Sharon Cuneta.

In a previous report by KAMI, Kiko Pangilinan’s wife Sharon Cuneta announced that she would take a break from social media and using her phone, saying she would only keep in touch with family. The Megastar shared that her “mind and emotions are gonna take a vacation from everything extra.” She also admitted that at one point, she became “somebody I didn’t like at all” because of social media.