President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prosecute those implicated in corrupt flood control infrastructure projects, asserting that public funds must yield direct protection and services for the Filipino people.
Speaking at a presidential luncheon hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Diamond Hotel Manila, Marcos emphasized that legitimate governance is rooted in maintaining public trust.
“Every peso invested in these projects must translate into real protection for our people and our communities,” Marcos said. “Ultimately effective governance is not measured solely by what the government builds, but also by the trust that it earns from the people that we serve.”
Marcos explained that he exposed the flawed infrastructure deals during his State of the Nation Address after realizing the extent of systemic corruption. He pledged that investigations will continue unabated, regardless of political terms, to establish a culture where wrongdoing by officials and contractors is strictly intolerable.
When asked about the status of potential charges against his cousin, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Marcos declined to comment on the progress or schedule of the ongoing probe.
“I think you should be asking that question to the Ombudsman,” Marcos said, reiterating that the independent oversight agency controls the timeline and direction of the investigation.