Marcos’ desire to hold flood control culprits accountable will never wane – Palace

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s desire to hold to account those behind the flood control project anomalies will not diminish, as Malacañang pointed out that the government has achieved a lot in four months in going after personalities tagged in the controversy.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark in response to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson’s remark that the Palace appears to have lost its enthusiasm in the flood control scandal.

“Ang Pangulo ang nagnais na ma-imbestigahan ang maanomalyang flood control projects. Marami na ang nagawa para mapanagot ang mga sangkot sa loob pa lamang ng apat na buwan,” Castro said in a statement on Monday.

(It was the President who wanted an investigation into the anomalous flood control projects. Much has been done to hold to account those who are allegedly involved in just four months.)

“Hindi huhupa ang naisin ng Pangulo sa naumpisahang pagpapanagot sa mga umabuso sa pondo ng bayan. Suportado rin ng Pangulo na mapalakas pa ang pwersa ng ICI,” she added. 

(The President’s desire for the accountability of those who abused public funds will not diminish. The President also supports strengthening he ICI.) 

The day before, Lacson issued a statement about the progress of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in its probe of the flood control controversy.

“I wonder why Malacañang’s enthusiasm is lost all of a sudden. I still believe that the ICI is serving its purpose in flushing out useful information, to say the least, for the Ombudsman and DOJ (Department of Justice) to proceed with their preliminary investigation and come up with solid cases against those responsible in the plunder of public funds,” he said.

“This, even when Congress has taken positive steps to follow the lead of the President in getting to the bottom of the unprecedented infrastructure anomalies never unearthed before by any of the past administrations,” Lacson added. 

Over the weekend, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said two “big fish” personalities will be charged in the coming days in connection with alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

On Sunday, Castro also told Super Radyo dzBB that she hoped that the bills pushing for the creation of an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) will not duplicate the functions of the Ombudsman and the DOJ in investigating irregularities of other infrastructure projects.

She said she hoped the constitutionality of such bills will not be questioned due to possible redundancy of functions or mandates.

Earlier during the November 30 anti-corruption rallies, Castro also asked the public for more patience as the government investigates and prosecutes personalities tagged in the flood control anomalies, stressing that due process must be observed. — JMA, GMA Integrated News