President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has underscored the critical need for building solid, evidence-based cases against individuals involved in anomalous flood control projects. The President stressed that pursuing weak or rushed charges could ultimately undermine government efforts for accountability and bolster the confidence of violators.
In a recent podcast interview teaser aired Sunday, President Marcos cautioned against the dangers of premature legal action. “Look, what will happen: we rushed it, our evidence is incomplete, our evidence is vague, but we pushed through, and the case was lost. Can you imagine? I think that would be much, much, much, much worse,” the President stated.
President Marcos emphasized that while the guilt of many individuals linked to questionable projects may be clear, the government’s legal strategy must be unimpeachable.
“We know many of these people are not innocent, but if you’re going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case,” he affirmed. The Chief Executive warned that case dismissals due to weak evidence could embolden violators and severely damage the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption drive.
The President reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law in all government actions. “We have to follow the law. Otherwise, whatever we do is not legitimate. And we have to be very, very clear that we go after the guilty ones,” President Marcos emphasized.
This push for accountability and transparency in infrastructure spending, particularly flood control projects, has been a key priority for the administration. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, the President publicly called out those responsible for irregularities, stating, “Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino” (You should be ashamed before your fellow Filipinos).
To formalize these efforts, the President established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on September 11. The ICI is actively investigating suspected anomalous Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects nationwide.
In tandem with this, the administration launched the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, providing a direct and accessible channel for citizens to report substandard or non-existent infrastructure projects in their communities, further enhancing public participation in the anti-corruption drive.
