Palace still vetting list of people, firms behind faulty, ‘ghost’ flood projects
President Marcos will not release an unverified list of individuals or companies supposedly behind substandard or nonexistent flood control projects in the country.
This was the Palace’s response to the challenge of Mamamayang Liberal party list Rep. Leila De Lima for the President to identify and prosecute those behind failed, unfinished or “ghost” flood control projects, as he vowed in his fourth State of the Nation Address last month.
In response, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos would not resort to making empty threats or publicizing an unproven list while the investigation is still underway.
“The President will not resort to spouting empty threats. He will not release any list that is not verified first. If that happened in the previous administration, then President Marcos will definitely not imitate him,” she told reporters in a briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, at the sidelines of the President’s state visit to India.
“He made that pronouncement to serve as a warning to improve and make the processes transparent in coming up with our 2026 national budget,” she added.
Castro was apparently referring to the lists of narco politicians released in 2016 and 2019 by then President Rodrigo Duterte. A number of the people on the list ended up being killed by vigilantes or in legitimate police operations.
No rushed decisions
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency had said then that case buildup procedures were conducted to pursue airtight cases against the personalities named, but only a few of these prospered.
“It’s difficult if we act too hastily or rush decisions that may turn out to be wrong, and we might end up implicating or affecting innocent people,” Castro said.
“So all facts must be verified, and those truly accountable must be held responsible. That’s what the President wants,” she stressed.
On the latest episode of his podcast, Mr. Marcos bared that several individuals and corporations involved in substandard or ghost flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways have been identified.
But he did not name them, saying only that complaints would soon be filed against them.
