By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Monday stressed that Filipinos remain optimistic about the imprisonment of flood control mess culprits, despite the decline in public confidence during the last quarter of 2025 based on a survey.
According to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Dec. 12 to 15 last year, 59% of Filipinos said they still believe that officials involved in anomalous flood control projects will still be put in jail—a 12-point drop from the 71% recorded in September 2025.
About 13% believe the suspects will not be punished, while another 28% were unsure.
“59% ang naniniwala na mapapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot. So ito po ay positibo dahil alam nila na ang dapat managot ay maaaring mabilanggo,” Presidential Communications Office and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
The same survey revealed that 48% or a “small majority” of Filipino respondents expressed distrust on the capability of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in addressing the problem of corruption in multi-billion-peso flood control projects.
Some 30% still trust the President, while 22% were undecided.
“Ibig sabihin, 52% naniniwala na mariresolba ng Pangulo ang isyu sa katiwalian. So majority pa rin po ang naniniwala sa kakayanan ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
She underscored that Marcos Jr. will continue to pursue accountability on erring public officials, even if it affects his own administration.
“Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ang [isang] pangulo ay mag-iimbestiga ng korapsyon sa kaniyang panahon. Hindi ito nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon,” Castro said.
“Ang sabi nga natin, kung hindi ito gagawin ng Pangulo ngayon, kailan pa? At kung hindi ang Pangulong Marcos ang gagawa nito, sino pa? Siya lang naman po ang may lakas ng loob na maapektuhan man po ang kaniyang administrasyon, gagawin niya pa rin po ito para sa taumbayan,” she added.
-jpv
