Malacañang Speaks on Independent Commission Pres. Bongbong Marcos Wants for Flood Control Probe
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President wants a “subpoena power” for the independent commission to be created for the flood control probe.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, more popularly called DPWH, is now under fire amid the discovery of several allegedly anomalous flood control projects in the different areas in the country. Amid the issue, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigned from his position.
Bonoan ordered for the temporary suspension of Travel Authorities for all employees of the DPWH who want to travel abroad for personal purposes amid the flood control projects probe. While there were already existing calls for his resignation, many people were surprised when he suddenly left his post. He was replaced by Vince Dizon, the secretary of the Department of Transportation prior to his appointment to the DPWH.
After assuming the post, new DPWH chief Vince Dizon confirmed that he will order the “courtesy resignation” of all officials of the agency nationwide. The order will include all the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, division heads, and district engineers of DPWH.
Furthermore, the newly-appointed DPWH Chief also claimed that he will abolish the agency’s internal investigation committee amid the flood control issue. According to him, he does not believe that an agency can investigate itself. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, he also vowed to ‘erase red flags’ in the proposed budget of the DPWH for 2026.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos has previously confirmed the creation of an independent committee that will investigate the flood control projects and the infrastructure projects funded by the government. The President confirmed that his office is drafting an executive order for it but the structure, then, was not yet decided on.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on the independent commission that the President wants to be created for the investigation of the government-funded infrastructures. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, Pres. Bongbong Marcos wants the independent commission to have a subpoena power, the authority to compel individuals to attend for an investigation.
”Noon po ay sinasabi po natin na mukhang walang subpoena power. Pero ang nais po ng Pangulo sa nasabing independent commission ay mabigyan po ng lakas, mabigyan ng ngipin para po mas mapatupad kung ano ang mandato ng independent commission na ito. At nais po ng Pangulo na magkaroon po ng subpoena power ang independent commission,” Castro said.
The executive order for the creation of the independent commission is already being finalized as per the Palace press official. Amid the issue, the Senate is also investigating the alleged anomalous flood control projects and have invited the contractors flagged by Marcos Jr.
Amid the budget deliberation, Marcos Jr. ordered a “sweeping review” of the 2026 proposed budget of the DPWH. His order came after the allegations that there were items in the budget proposal that supposedly seek budget allocations for ‘completed’ projects.