Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of being behind what he called “the biggest corruption scheme” in Philippine history, alleging that billions of pesos intended for flood control have been misused through a “well-orchestrated network” within the administration.
In a public statement on Monday, Singson claimed that nearly half a trillion pesos allocated for flood control initiatives had not resolved the country’s flooding problems but instead worsened them. He said corruption and poor planning were to blame for the continued devastation of communities.
“This flood control scandal is the biggest corruption scheme I have witnessed in my entire life,” Singson said. “Having seen eight presidents lead this nation, this is an obvious, well-orchestrated scheme created by this administration to exploit the country’s national budget for personal gain.”
Singson argued that despite the reported completion of over 9,800 flood control projects, massive flooding still persists across provinces, destroying farms and displacing thousands. He asserted that all major infrastructure expenditures undergo presidential approval, including those under the National Expenditure Program and the General Appropriations Act.
“Public funds are not released easily,” he said. “Every major flood project, every rehabilitation program, every large-scale public work — all of it passes through his desk.”
The former governor also criticized the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for allegedly excluding Ilocos Norte — the president’s home province — from its corruption probe. He claimed that billions of pesos in contracts there were awarded to companies tied to Marcos’ political allies, including a newly elected mayor in Laoag City and the contractor-couple Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya.
“Almost P4 billion has been funneled to this mayor, who is their favorite contractor, since the Bongbong administration,” Singson said. “Why is the ICI not investigating Ilocos Norte — the clearest example of how corruption hides under political protection?”
Singson further branded the plunder case filed against him as a “fake complaint” meant to silence his accusations, saying it came from a lawyer linked to his political rivals.
“They attack me because I am not afraid to tell the truth,” he said. “All their paid online troll farms and their attack dogs will never silence me.”
Calling on citizens, particularly the youth and public servants, to demand accountability, Singson said the president must either take responsibility for the alleged corruption or “step aside for the sake of the nation.” He also appealed to law enforcement and the military to “stand with the people, not with the powerful.”
