San Fernando, La Union - 3 January 2025. Manong Chavit makes a courtesy call to Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto. Other local officials such as Vice Governor Mario Ortega and 1st District Rep. Hon Paolo Ortega V also in attendance. Photograph by RGarcia for the DAILY TRIBUNE
NATION

Singson claims Marcos will be ousted over alleged flood control corruption

Neil Alcober

Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Chavit Singson on Monday said he believes President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. will be ousted amid alleged anomalous flood control projects funded by the government.

“I believe in God. I believe in miracles. I believe that Marcos will be ousted. I am dead sure something will happen,” Singson said during a press conference at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City on January 5.

During the event, Singson presented what he described as evidence and personal testimonies concerning the legacy of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and the current administration of his son.

Singson claimed that controversial government contractor Sarah Discaya, whom he described as a key witness, was charged after 121 days and had admitted to distributing kickbacks to some government officials.

He also identified former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co as another important witness, noting that Co was charged within seven days.

Singson further alleged that retired Marine Orly Goteza was being hidden by Martin Romualdez, claiming he would be used to mislead the public.

Singson said he had intended to release the exposé in December but chose to reveal it this month to coincide with what he described as the symbolic significance of 40 years.

“This is the grand conspiracy. They are lying to us face to face,” he said.

“Sya nag-umpisa at sya ang magtatapos. Hindi po. Sinungaling si Bongbong Marcos. Sya nag-umpisa. Taong-bayan ang magtatapos,” he added.

Singson also said former President Rodrigo Duterte was the first to disclose alleged anomalies in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

He presented video clips involving both Marcos and Duterte, citing what he described as key revelations.

“Kailangan nakatawa si Bong Bong Marcos. 4,057 pages binasa nya so alam nya ang GAA 2025 na laman ang P100 Billion na insertion para sa kanya. He analyzed it. He studied it. Sinungaling ang mastermind. Alam nya ang nasa loob (2025 GAA),” Singson said.

“P100 million tinanggal sa Cebu, P800 million tinanggal sa Abra. P980 billion pa rin ang para sa kanya,” he added.

Singson also showed footage of what he described as the warrantless arrest of former President Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11, 2025.

He claimed that President Marcos’ senatorial slate lost in the May 2025 elections, while Duterte-backed candidates won.

“Tuloy-tuloy lang ang scripted interview para sa character buildup ni actor-president. Sinungaling nito na Presidente. Kailangang ilaglag ang mga Senator at Congressman para maging hero sya,” Singson said.

“The actor-mastermind ‘ako ang maglalantad at hero pa ako,” he added.

Another video shown during the event featured President Marcos’ July 2025 State of the Nation Address, where the President cited more than 5,500 flood control projects from 2023 to 2024 and criticized those behind alleged irregularities.

“Nilaglag ni Bongbong Marcos ang mga contractor at engineers. In SONA 2025, hindi nya binanggit sina Zaldy Co at Martin Romualdez,” Singson said.

“Sinungaling na Presidente. Bata pa lang kami ni Bongbong, alam na ng buong pamilya ang problema sa kanya.. Batid ko na…,” he added, quoting Senator Imee Marcos.

Singson also claimed that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) inspected only two allegedly anomalous projects nationwide.

“All the projects nationwide were paid in advance kaya marami silang pera. All paid in advance. Yan ang mga project sa Ilocos Norte,” he said.

“Completed nasa record ng Department of Public Works and Highways. Allegedly completed as per record, completed fully paid. Bayad na lahat ito,” he added.

He further alleged that there are fewer than 200 “ghost projects” in Ilocos Norte, including in the district of Sandro Marcos.

According to Singson, Laoag City Mayor James Ryan Alcid allegedly received billions of pesos worth of flood control projects, which he described as either ghost or substandard.

An AI-generated video shown during the briefing also alleged anomalous projects involving Romualdez and Co, which Singson said were part of the flood control projects cited in the 2025 SONA.

“Gumagawa na sila ng pera noong 2023 at 2024,” Singson said.

He also cited a recent privilege speech by Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Egay Erice criticizing President Marcos for allegedly remaining silent on budget insertions.

“The P6.326-trillion budget for 2025 was signed into law by magician President Marcos, but P89-billion from PhilHealth was ordered back to the national treasury, P74 billion was requested by PhilHealth but the President removed it when it was submitted back to him. For the first time PhilHealth has no budget this year 2025,” Singson said.

“Of the P100-billion budget insertions of Romualdez and Co for Bongbong Marcos, BBM vetoed only three projects worth P1.15 billion which was included in the 2025 GAA he signed into law,” he added.

“Puro pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan! Bukod pa ito sa mga insertions, unprogrammed funds, ayuda bakit nauna ang pagpondo saka lang hahanapan ng items sa National Expenditures Program. ‘Allocables’ are the new pork, Sandro Marcos and Martin Romualdez are the pork barrel kings,” Singson said.

“Kasalanan ito ng mga palpak na 5,500 flood control projects ni Bongbong Marcos. He tolerated graft and corruption para makapagnakaw lang,” he added.

Singson said the number 40 symbolized completion and renewal, citing the Bible and drawing parallels to the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

“Forty years apart. A tale of two Marcoses. From father to son, a legacy of corruption. This is truly the biggest corruption scandal in Philippine history,” he said.

“Marcos at Romualdez noon, Marcos at Romualdez naman ngayon. 40 years apart. Tama na, Sobra na!” he added.

Singson also accused ICI Chairman Andres Reyes of lying, noting that Reyes remained the only commissioner following the resignations of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Rogelio Singson.

He read an open letter addressed to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., urging the military to confront alleged corruption.

“Stop provoking China. China is not our enemy. Our enemy is the corrupt officials of our country,” Singson said.

He challenged uniformed personnel to denounce corruption publicly and warned against silence.

“If they agree, I would readily go to Malacañang,” Singson said, referring to his challenge to President Marcos and Romualdez to engage in a public debate. “It’s not enough that Martin Romualdez should be charged alone. Zaldy Co should also be charged.”

Singson also said a one-time, large-scale rally is being planned, with the date to be decided by religious and youth groups.