Marcos ‘will spare no one’ in misuse of flood control funds probe — Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday emphasized President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s firm commitment to address corruption and the reported misuse of public funds in flood control projects. 

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, underscored Marcos’ commitment to determine those involved in irregularities in flood control projects. 

“Kahit malapit sa puso, kahit kaibigan, wala pong sisinuhin ang Pangulo, mananagot ang dapat managot (Even this close to his heart, even friends, the President will spare no one, those who are accountable will be held accountable),” Castro said. 

According to Castro, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), through its Regional Project Monitoring Committees (RPMC), will lead the probe into the irregularities in flood control projects. While Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will provide the records of all the projects. 

Aside from DEPDev, Castro said other participating agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of the President-Presidential Management Staff (OP-PMS), and possibly non-government or people’s organizations will join the investigation. 

Meanwhile, Castro urged the public to be careful of sending “fictitious or fraudulent information” about the corruption in the flood control projects. 

“Huwag lamang po ninyong sanang gawing laro ang pagre-report. Siguraduhin lamang po ninyo na iyong ire-report ninyo ay may basehan para po hindi naman masayang ang oras ng gobyerno na para saliksikin pa po ang inyong ini-report,” she said. 

Castro made the warning after Marcos officially launched the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website on Monday and called on the public to directly report to him any anomalous flood control projects in their areas.

The website, sumbongsapangulo.ph, was set up following the President’s directive during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to investigate irregularities in flood control projects, considering the recurrent severe flooding experienced during the typhoon season.