Malacañang pushed back on Wednesday against Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s claims that the government’s ongoing investigation into questionable flood-control projects is nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“Manood na lamang po siya,” said Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro in response to Duterte’s remarks during a press briefing.
The mayor, speaking from The Hague in an interview with former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the probe, saying the chief executive himself should be held accountable. He added that if Marcos was serious about addressing corruption, he should file charges instead of making public pronouncements. “Because he [Marcos] is turning that into a press release now, it’s his PR stunt now,” Duterte said.
Castro underscored that the President has made it clear: officials and politicians proven guilty of involvement in the anomalous projects will be held accountable. “The president said that he will not stop this [investigation] and that he will finish it before the end of his term,” she stressed.
The Palace official also confirmed that Marcos has ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials tied to flood-prevention projects.
The issue has drawn national attention after Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address, lambasted officials and contractors who allegedly pocketed billions intended for flood defenses. He said they should be ashamed of themselves.
The allegations are not without weight. Senator Panfilo Lacson previously estimated that nearly half of the ₱2-trillion allocation since 2011 may have already been lost to corruption.
To strengthen transparency, Marcos launched the sumbongsapangulo.ph platform earlier this month. By August 27, the site had already logged more than 9,000 reports from citizens flagging suspicious flood-control projects.
