The Senate has opened a formal inquiry into the mysterious death of a young researcher from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), whose crusade against alleged “ghost projects” in the agency ended in tragedy. The hearing, led by Senator Robin Padilla, delved into allegations of corruption, internal cover-ups, and the integrity of the agency’s projects — all revolving around the late NIA legal researcher, Kyle, who had become known online for his outspoken criticism of government infrastructure programs.

The session began on an emotional note, with a representative from the farming community pleading for sincerity and unity in addressing agricultural challenges. “Because the farmers are already pitiful,” the representative said. “They’ve been left behind, completely left behind. We hope that whatever is truly needed will just be straightforward. Let’s not mind who is in office… For us, there’s no politics anymore.”

The testimony set the tone for a tense and deeply personal discussion — one that centered not only on the country’s irrigation systems but also on justice for a man who dared to speak up.

Senator Robin Padilla did not hold back as he pressed NIA officials for clarity. “Just one more question about the person who died,” Padilla said sternly. “Can you please answer us what really happened to that young man? Why is someone still saying it was the young man’s fault? What happened to that lawyer?”

Kyle, according to reports, had spent months exposing what he claimed were “ghost projects” — infrastructure programs that existed only on paper — as well as instances of substandard construction within NIA and other agencies. His social media posts gained attention for naming specific projects and tagging multiple government departments. But his death — under circumstances that remain under investigation — cast a chilling shadow over his advocacy.

NIA officials appeared defensive yet composed as they faced the senators’ inquiries. One official began by acknowledging the tragedy but quickly distanced the current administration from the controversies linked to Kyle’s exposés.

“Well, actually, what happened is saddening,” the official said. “His parents also worked for NIA… it’s just sad that we are being pointed to, but the truth is, when I looked at Kyle’s posts on his Facebook, the ones he was criticizing were about different agencies in NIA. In fact, the project Kyle was referring to was not under our administration. It was from the previous administrator’s time.”

The official went on to emphasize that the project in question — the Maging Communal Irrigation Project in Lanao del Sur — was neither a ghost project nor substandard. “The picture he showed that was broken is fixed now,” the official explained. “We have farmers already using the water and planting. So the Maging project is operational.”

To further bolster their defense, NIA presented findings from a composite team that had conducted an ocular inspection shortly after Kyle’s death. Photos and reports showed that the dam was damaged by a calamity but had since been repaired. “It was not because it was substandard, and definitely not a ghost project,” the official stated firmly.

The hearing also featured a testimony from a member of the local Irrigators Association, who confirmed the functionality and benefits of the same project Kyle had once questioned.

“This is a great help to us farmers,” the farmer testified. “If before we could only plant once a year, now we can do it three times because of this irrigation. We are always grateful to the National Irrigation Administration.”

Their statement, however, drew mixed reactions online. Some praised the progress, while others accused the agency of using select testimonies to deflect attention from unresolved corruption issues.

Despite the controversy, NIA officials insisted that they have been fully cooperating with law enforcement in investigating Kyle’s death. They also revealed that the agency offered a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

“We offered a reward for whoever can provide information,” one official said. “But when it comes to project implementation, what I can say is that NIA’s process is different. We follow the proper procedure.”

Still, questions linger. Many observers noted that while NIA may not be directly responsible for the project Kyle criticized, the larger issue remains — a culture of fear and retaliation against those who speak up.

Senator Joel Villanueva, who joined the session briefly, raised a separate but related issue — the deflation of a rubber gate in Bulacan’s Bustos Dam earlier this year. His remarks served as a reminder that even beyond the tragic death of one researcher, concerns about infrastructure integrity and oversight remain a nationwide problem.

As the hearing closed, Senator Padilla reiterated his call for transparency and justice. The senators vowed to monitor the ongoing investigation into Kyle’s death, as well as the broader issue of alleged ghost projects.

While the NIA maintains that the Maging project is fully operational and beneficial to farmers, the case has once again drawn public attention to the dangers faced by whistleblowers in government service — and to the question that still haunts the nation:

Until that question is answered, the call for accountability in public service — and justice for one man’s courage — will not fade.