President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged that the ongoing flood control scandal has been “disruptive,” admitting it has caused a difficult period for both the government and the Filipino public.

He likened the administration’s anti-corruption efforts to a surgeon removing a tumor from the human body.

“We are trying to change the entire system. And when you have to excise the cancer out of such a complicated system, you need to do some very major surgery,” he said.

“And to do that, and when you do that, you will bleed. And that is what we had to go through. We had to. I am sorry that the people suffered because of it, but it had to be done,” he added.

Marcos noted that had he not exposed the alleged corruption in the flood control program, systemic issues would have remained untouched.

“We have to go all through that pain, go through that difficulty, that anguish the country is going through now,” he said. “But we are Filipinos. We may be bleeding now, but we will also feel very, very good.”

‘We know what to do’

Despite public criticism, the President expressed confidence in the administration’s recovery plan following the scandal.

“Between myself and those who are helping me and advising me, I think we know how,” he said.

“So it's not as if we are lost, and we do not know what we are going to do. We know what we are going to do. And we will continue this campaign on corruption. We will continue our campaign on this abuse and this entitlement that has shocked everyone, myself included,” he added.

Marcos said he hopes that after investigations conclude and accountability is enforced, the public will see that the difficult reforms were “worth it.”

“That is what we are hoping for. It took time to do it, but I really think, I mean, if we work 24/7 like we always have, I think we can do it,” he said.

Earlier, the President vowed that those behind the flood control anomalies—including “big fish”—would be jailed by Christmas.