Sara Duterte confident she won’t be implicated in flood control scandal

Vice President Sara Duterte expressed confidence Thursday that she will not be implicated in the alleged corruption scandal involving flood control projects, even as she accused some groups of trying to link her and her political allies to the controversy.

During a press conference at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City for the World Pandesal Day celebration, Duterte said that while she expects attempts to drag her into the issue because of her alliance with Senator Bong Go and former President Rodrigo Duterte, there is no basis to connect her to the alleged anomaly.

“Sigurado ako hindi aabot sa akin ‘yung flood control scandal (I’m certain the flood control scandal won’t reach me),” Duterte said.

She pointed out that neither the Office of the Vice President nor the Department of Education —which she headed until July—handles flood control projects.

“Kasi unang-una, wala namang flood control projects sa OVP o Department of Education. At nakasabi naman talaga ang mga contractors, ilan si Sec.(Manuel)  Bonoan, wala talaga akong project at all sa DPWH,” she said.

(First of all, there are no flood control projects under the OVP or the Department of Education. Even the contractors and Secretary Bonoan have said I have no projects whatsoever with the DPWH.)

She added that despite her high-profile position, she has never taken part in any dealings involving such projects.

“Hindi ako sumasali sa ganyan (I don’t get involved in those things),” Duterte said.

However, she said she believes some parties might still try to link her to the issue for political reasons.

“Kung aabot ba sa akin? Sa tingin ko susubukan nilang paabutin sa akin dahil sa kaalyado ni dating Pangulong Duterte si Sen. Bong Go. Doon siguro nila gagawan ng kwento—‘yun ‘yung part na ako, si PRRD sa gitna, at si Sen. Bong Go sa kabilang side,” she said.

(If it will reach me? I think they’ll try to connect it to me because Senator Bong Go is an ally of former President Duterte. That’s probably where they’ll try to make up a story—me on one side, PRRD in the middle, and Senator Go on the other.)

GMA Integrated News asked if she thinks investigators will also attempt to link former President Duterte to the controversy, the Vice President replied: “Oo, at saka sa akin (Yes, and to me as well).” 

Sara questions Marcos’ confidence amid ongoing probe

Duterte also questioned President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent statement expressing confidence that the flood control scandal would not reach the Office of the President.

“Sa ganitong ongoing pa ang imbestigasyon, magtataka ka bakit confident ‘yung Pangulo na hindi aabot sa Office of the President ‘yung iskandalo at korapsyon,” she said.

(While the investigation is still ongoing, it makes you wonder why the President is already confident that the scandal and corruption won’t reach the Office of the President.)

She said that such confidence might imply foreknowledge of how the inquiry would unfold.

“So ibig sabihin siguro alam na niya kung ano ‘yung kalalabasan ng inquiry o imbestigasyon kasi wala namang ibang explanation kung bakit ang confident mo sa mangyayari bukas,” Duterte said.

(That probably means he already knows how the inquiry or investigation will turn out, because there’s no other explanation for being so confident about what will happen tomorrow.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro responded by saying that a person would really be confident if he knows that he is working for the country and not for his own interests.

Castro reiterated that it was Marcos who divulged those allegedly involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

''Magiging confident ang isang tao kapag alam niya na ang ginagawa niya ay para sa bayan at hindi pansarili lamang tulad ng iba diyan. Huwag kalimutan na ang Pangulo ang naging susi para masawata at maiwasan ang paggawa ng anomalya,'' she said.

(Someone will be confident if he knows that he is working for the country and not for his own interest unlike what others are doing. Let's not forget that the President was the key in curbing these anomalies.) 

'''Yan ang ating Pangulo, matapang at  taas noo sa mga sinasabi. Hindi natakot na magpaimbestiga na hindi ginawa ng nakaraang administrasyon,'' she added. 

(That's our President, he's brave and he stands for what he is saying. He's not afraid to initiate a probe which was not done by the previous administration.)

She also said someone who is at fault is the one who often discredits the government even if he or she has no accomplishments. 

''Pero ang taong may kasalanan sa bayan ay takot sumagot at palaging umiiwas ipaalam sa mamamayan ang tunay na ginawa niya laban sa bayan... worse, siya pang malakas manira ng gobyerno kahit wala siyang maipakitang sariling accomplishments,'' Castro said. 

(Someone who is at fault is often afraid of facing the public, worse she often discredits the government even if she has no accomplishments of her own.) —with a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA Integrated News