By Brian Campued
“The truth has to come out.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to hold accountable those who are behind the alleged irregularities and corruption in flood control projects, stressing that the probe will not end until the “big fish” are caught.
In the second part of the BBM Podcast Episode 4 on Monday, the President lamented over the scope of corruption in government, reflecting decades of neglect.
He added that evidence must be secured first before filing cases against the people behind the scheme.
“Kasi ‘pag hindi mo mabubuwag ‘yang sistemang ‘yan hangga’t tinanggal mo ‘yung mga player na ‘yan. So, tatanggalin natin ‘yung mga player na ‘yon at kahit sino man sila para maging maayos ang patakbo ng sistema,” he said.
With both the Senate and the House of Representatives conducting separate probes into the anomalies in flood control works, the Chief Executive said that the independent commission being established will push through with its own investigation and ultimately recommend legal actions against those involved in corruption.
“Prerogative ng Kongreso ‘yan eh… mag-conduct sila ng imbestigasyon. At kahit papaano pagka may masusing imbestigasyon, kahit papaano mayroon tayong makukuha din diyan. So, baka makatulong din,” Marcos said, despite some lawmakers being linked to questionable contractors.
“But… we will have the independent commission. We will organize it. We will support it fully. And all the other organs of government will, I am sure, play their part in finding the truth to all of these anomalies,” he added.
No new budget for 2026 flood control
With the ongoing review of the spending plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for next year, Marcos said the revised budget will no longer have new allocations for flood control projects as the P350 billion from 2025 were not fully spent.
“I already instructed the DPWH to review and rewrite the DPWH budget. So we have a commitment to Congress that the rewritten DPWH budget will be submitted to them,” he said.
“Hindi ibig sabihin [na] ititigil natin ‘yong flood control project. Ibig sabihin, titiyakin na ngayon natin na ang paggastos [ay] tama, ang pag-implement [ay] tama, maayos ang design, etcetera, etcetera,” he explained.
The President underscored DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon’s commitment to the job and that the new Public Works chief “understands very well what needs to be done.”
Part of the reforms in the implementation of flood control projects, Marcos said, is that contractors must fix their substandard works “at their cost” before the government considers further discussion.
-jpv
