Palace: No names yet in flood scam

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. won’t be releasing the names of those allegedly involved in irregularities tied to flood control projects — at least not until the investigations are completed and the findings are verified, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Speaking from New Delhi where the President is on a state visit to India, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos is determined not to prematurely disclose unverified information, unlike under previous administrations where the practice was common.

“The President will not imitate any kind of mere threats. He will not release any unverified lists. Even if this happened in past administrations, the President will not do that,” Castro said in a press briefing.

Her remarks came amid mounting public and political pressure for Marcos to identify those behind the so-called “ghost” or failed flood control projects that have been widely blamed for the recent spate of flooding across the country.

In his recent State of the Nation Address, the President directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a complete list of flood control projects undertaken during his term highlighting which were completed, which remain unfinished, and which appear not to exist at all.

Castro said that while the administration is serious about fighting corruption, it is equally committed to ensuring due process.

“He said this to serve as a warning so that the 2026 budget would be improved and made more transparent,” Castro said, emphasizing the administration’s push for cleaner and more accountable infrastructure spending.

She pointed out the President is prepared to take legal action, but only once the investigation yields concrete, verified evidence.

“So, if no names have been given yet, it’s most probably because the investigation is still not finished,” she said.

The probe is ongoing even as public scrutiny continues to grow over how government infrastructure funds are being used — especially in the wake of widespread flooding in multiple provinces.