President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed lifestyle checks on all government officials as part of the crackdown on alleged irregularities in flood control projects, Malacañang confirmed Wednesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the probe will begin with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has been linked to questionable projects.
“Unang una po hindi natin makakaila na may mga DPWH officials na sinasabing involved at malamang ay magsimula sila doon,” Castro said. She added that the President has ordered a review of all DPWH records tied to the disputed projects.
Castro stressed that accountability will be enforced regardless of political ties. “Magdedemanda po talaga, sasampahan ng kaso ang dapat masampahan ng kaso. Walang sisinuhin, walang malapit sa puso, walang kaalyado – kung sinuman ang involved dito, sasampahan ng kaso,” she declared.
The order also gives local government units and other agencies the go signal to conduct their own lifestyle checks and investigations.
The directive has drawn support from key officials. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said, “Tama naman yun – we welcome the lifestyle check. We will cooperate.” Transport Secretary Vince Dizon agreed, calling it “the right thing to do.” Meanwhile, ICT Secretary Henry Aguda noted that such reviews are easier in the digital age: “Alam mo ngayon, sa social media, wala ka nang puwedeng itago. So lahat naman ‘yan, puwedeng makita sa social media.”
The move follows Marcos’ public outrage last week after he discovered a multimillion-peso riverwall project in Bulacan labeled “completed” but not actually constructed. He warned that those behind such “ghost projects” may face economic sabotage charges.
The DPWH has already admitted that fraudulent flood control projects exist and vowed to carry out its own internal probe.
