Marcos serious in flood control probe — Palace

Malacañang ensured that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is serious in making accountable those involved in failed flood control projects, saying that the latter was not just making threats. 

During a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for reaction on the remarks of ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima that those involved in the anomalies must be named and that Marcos should not make threats on having a reenacted budget. 

''Una-una po, hindi po gagayahin ng Pangulo ang anumang klase ng pag-threaten lamang. Hindi po siya maglalabas ng anumang mga listahan na hindi verified,'' Castro responded.

(First of all, the President will not imitate making threats. He will not release any unverified information.) 

''Kung nangyari man ito sa mga nakaraang administrasyon, hindi po gagawin ng Pangulo yan. Sinabi niya po ito to serve as a warning para po mas mapaganda at mas maging transparent ang magiging budget ng 2026,'' she added.

(If this happened in the previous administration, the President will not do that. He made the remark to serve as a warning so that the 2026 budget will be more transparent.) 

To recall, the President said his administration is willing to operate under a reenacted budget in 2026, warning that he will veto a proposed budget bill, which will not be in harmony with his administration’s programs and priorities, including the flood control projects. 

The Palace official, meanwhile, said the investigation as regards failed flood control projects will continue. Castro also ensured that the President would not release unverified information, particularly names, as regards the flood control mess. 

''So kung ngayon po ay hindi pa po nakakapagbigay ng anumang pangalan dahil most probably hindi pa po tapos ang imbestigasyon. Mahirap po kasi na mag pabilis-bilis lang po yung padalos-dalos sa kilos ng mali pala at baka meron tayong inosenteng masabit at maapektuhan to,'' Castro said.

(So if at present, he could not provide a name yet, maybe the investigation is not yet finished. It's difficult if we just release information and then those innocent ones will be implicated.) 

''So dapat po verified lahat ang facts at pananagutin po ang dapat managot. At 'yan po ang gusto ng Pangulo,'' she added. 

(Facts must be verified and those involved must be held liable, That's what the President wants.) 

Beyond flood control projects

Meanwhile, Castro said the investigation would not be limited to flood control projects. 

''Kung ano po ang dapat na imbestigahan, hindi po tayo lilimita sa flood control projects,'' Castro said.

(Whatever needs to be investigated, we will not limit them to flood control projects.) 

Marcos had said his allies will not be spared if found to be involved in corruption on flood control projects. He said he has the names but he did not specify yet. 

If proven that they are involved in corruption, Marcos said they would be blacklisted from the government.

Marcos also said other government projects would also be audited, not just the flood control programs. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News