Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong></strong>— Malacañang said Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no involvement in the flood control scandal, stressing his initiative to start the probe on alleged &quot;ghost&quot; projects in his term. </p><p>Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro issued the statement when asked if Marcos&#x27; &quot;no exemption&quot; rule in flood control probe also applies to him.</p><p>&quot;Of course wala namang dapat exempted. Pero ang Pangulo, alam niya po ang kaniyang ginagawa. Alam niya po kung bakit niya pinaimbestigahan at pinangunahan ang malalimang pagiimbestiga na ito. Ibig sabihin po, kung siya mismo ang nag-utos na mag-imbestiga, alam po natin na malinis ang kaniyang hangarin,&quot; she said.</p><p>This comes after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Usec. Adrian Bersamin <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/bersamin-pangandaman-resign-recto-is-new-executive-secretary-1722">tendered their resignation due to &quot;delicadeza&quot;</a>, after they were linked to anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>Marcos accepted their resignations and announced the appointment of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as the new executive secretary, Frederick Go as the new Finance chief, and Rolando Toledo as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).</p><p>Castro said if there are other government officials or Cabinet members who know they will be tagged to the issue, Marcos will appreciate if they also offer their resignation.</p><p>&quot;Kung alam po halimbawa ng isang myembro ng Gabinete na siya po ay may kinalaman o maaari siyang masangkot sa ganitong anomalya, nanaisin po ng pangulo na sila po mismo ang mag-resign out of delicadeza.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NOON PA MARAMI NANG ANOMALYA&#x27;</strong></div><p>Castro also slammed Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s earlier statements, as the latter claimed the President is now facing a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/sara-duterte-hits-marcos-jr-s-lack-of-direction-resolve-in-corruption-probe-1309">&quot;profound crisis of confidence&quot;</a> due to alleged lack of &quot;direction and resolve&quot; in the flood control probe.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po tayo naniniwala sa sinabi ng bise presidente. Uulit-ulitin natin na siya po ang nagpaumpisa ng pag-iimbestiga na ito,&quot; the Palace Press Officer said.</p><p>&quot;Noon pa po ay marami nang anomalya, since 2020, sinabi nating marami nang ghost projects pero wala pong ganito kalaking pag-iimbestigang nangyari,&quot; she continued.</p><p>Castro also challenged Duterte to explain the allegations hounding the Department of Education (DepEd) during her term.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">House impeaches VP Sara Duterte</a></div><p>&quot;So kung sino man nagsasabing walang trusting confidence, siguro po siya mismo ang maglahad kung mayroon siyang nakakaharap na anomalya tungkol sa korapsyon sa ghost students o food packs na kinapalooban ng DepEd sa kaniyang pamumuno. Dapat manguna po siya sa kaniyang pagpapaliwanag kung naniniwala siya sa transparency at accountability,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Sinabi po natin, &#x27;wag magmalinis ang &#x27;di malinis. At &#x27;wag magpakabayani ang &#x27;di bayani.&quot;</p><p>The flood control scandal came to light when Marcos uttered sharp words against the people behind the possible corruption in flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address last July.</p><p>This was followed by hearings and allegations against several contractors, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, and lawmakers.</p><p>Among those who are being accused of &quot;insertions&quot; during bicameral conference was former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who is now<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/zaldy-co-senate-ombudsman-should-probe-romualdez-and-marcos-over-alleged-p100-b-insertion-1249"> urging the Senate and the Office of the Ombudsman</a> to investigate Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez regarding the alleged P100 billion “insertion” in the 2025 national budget.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFFO9klrreo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang said Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no involvement in the flood control scandal, stressing his initiative to start the probe on alleged "ghost" projects in his term.</p>

Malacañang said Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no involvement in the flood control scandal, stressing his initiative to start the probe on alleged "ghost" projects in his term.

Many 'ghost' projects existed since 2020 but probe only started under Marcos: Palace

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Many 'ghost' projects existed since 2020 but probe only started under Marcos: Palace

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 17, 2025 07:06 PM PHT

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Updated November 18, 2025 12:40 AM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sara Duterte

Flood control scandal

Corruption

Claire Castro

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