President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the alleged corruption surrounding government flood control projects extends beyond his administration, tracing the problem back to at least 2017, while noting that former President Rodrigo Duterte had acknowledged irregularities but failed to hold anyone accountable. 

Speaking during a press conference upon his return from an official visit to Canada, Marcos said investigators continue to uncover evidence showing that the alleged anomalies are part of a long-running system rather than isolated incidents during his term.

"The more we look, the more we find," Marcos said. "It goes beyond my administration, beyond my term."

The President pointed to statements made in 2018 by then-House Minority Leader Rolando "Nonoy" Andaya Jr., who alleged a "P300-billion flood control mess," as evidence that the issue existed years before he assumed office in 2022.

Marcos said Duterte himself had acknowledged problems in flood control projects but said no officials were ultimately held accountable.

"At the time, President Duterte acknowledged there were great problems in terms of the flood control projects, but nothing happened," Marcos said.

"Having acknowledged it, he did not find accountability in anybody. So I guess that was left up to me."

Marcos said his administration has continued expanding its investigation, uncovering more questionable projects as authorities dig deeper into government records.

"As I said, the more we look, the more we investigate, the more we find," he said.

He described the alleged anomalies as a deeply entrenched system of corruption that cannot be solved through prosecutions alone.

"This is a deep-seated system of corruption that requires not only structural changes in the way government is run and in the way the budget is written, but also a change in attitude," Marcos said.

According to the President, some officials have become accustomed to treating commissions from government projects as normal practice.

"They put all kinds of nice words to it, rebate or whatever. That's a kickback," he said. "Some think they have the right to do that."

Marcos also rejected allegations that his administration is pursuing selective justice in its investigation of flood control anomalies.

"From the time that we formed the independent commission, I said we would just follow the evidence," he said. "We'll continue to do that."

He argued that criticism accusing his administration of weaponizing the investigations ignores the fact that his government initiated the public disclosure of the alleged irregularities.

"If I didn't say what I said in the State of the Nation Address, we wouldn't even be talking about this," Marcos said. "I'm the one who exposed all of this, and I'm the only one who started to do anything about it."

The President confirmed that the government has completed an inventory not only of contractors but also of flood control projects found to have irregularities.

He said the projects previously identified have since undergone investigation, resulting in cases being filed against some contractors and the freezing of their assets.

"There were one or two that, although they had large contracts and were named, it turned out there was no problem," Marcos said. "But yes, we now have an inventory not only of the contractors but also of the projects themselves that are problematic."

Asked about the Office of the Ombudsman's decision to discharge former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a state witness in its investigation, Marcos declined to comment on the merits of the move, saying it falls within the Ombudsman's authority.

"If he feels that former Secretary Manny Bonoan will be helpful to the cases against other people, then it is his prerogative," Marcos said. "It is his decision and his judgment to make, and I have complete faith in the Ombudsman and what he is doing." 

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