Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Pres. Bongbong Marcos amid Flood Control Mess in PH
BONGBONG MARCOS – Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the President must allegedly not allow congressmen to simply leave the Philippines or resign to “evade accountability”.
Countless Filipinos were left disappointed by the flood control mess following the discovery of several ‘ghost’ and substandard flood control projects in the country. Amid the issue, several government officials as well as officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are accused of corruption.
During a Senate flood probe, controversial contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, a couple, pinned down several officials of the government and the DPWH for allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects awarded to their companies. One of the congressmen mentioned in their testimony was Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez who resigned from being the House Speaker amid the accusations.
According to the Discayas, Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co allegedly got a 30% kickback from the flood control projects. The latter was reportedly in the United States for his medical treatment when the issue broke out. He denied the allegation.
Then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez also denied the accusations of the controversial contractors against him. He stressed that he is “self-made” and he does not need and will not allow himself to be corrupted by money that does not belong to him. Following his resignation, he is replaced by Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy as the chief of the House of Representatives.
Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez claimed that his decision to resign from his post is to allow the Independent Commission on Infrastructure to freely and fully conduct their investigation. According to him, the longer he stays in the position, the longer the weight is on the chamber as well as the Marcos administration.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos previously ordered the creation of the ICI to investigate the infra projects of the government. According to him, even his cousin, Martin, and his allies will not be spared from the flood probe. Despite the change in leadership in the House, based on a report on Inquirer, the House committees got no changes.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines that led to the shakeup in the Senate and the House of Representatives, the calls for Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines, and the upcoming budget deliberations, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos should allegedly not allow the congressmen to simply leave the country or resign from their position.
“Hindi niya dapat hinahayaan yung mga congressman na basta na lang umalis ng bansa o basta na lang mag-resign to evade accountability doon sa mga nakita natin na pag-chop-chop ng budget natin at pagkuha ng pera ng bayan para bumili sila ng mga properties, bumili sila ng mga jets, bumili sila ng properties abroad at lahat noong kanilang — na makikita natin sa lifestyle nila,” the Vice President said.
Amid the upcoming budget deliberations, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto assured that they will make sure of a cleaner budget for 2026. Pres. Bongbong Marcos previously stressed that the 2026 budget really has to be cleaned out properly amid the claims that there are allegedly some items asking for budget appropriations to projects that are already completed.