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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, July 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176335595376520230718-walang-gutom-2027-kick-off-JC-26.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, July 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s alleged lack of “direction and resolve” in the investigation of corruption schemes surrounding anomalous flood control projects, saying that the Chief Executive now “faces a profound crisis of confidence.”</p><p>Duterte uploaded a video message on her social media account as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos attend the second day of a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/iglesia-ni-cristo-members-camp-out-overnight-for-second-day-of-rally-in-manila-0657">3-day protest against corruption</a> in different parts of the country.</p><p>“Kaisa ako ng milyong-milyong Pilipinong nadismaya at nandidiri sa pamahalaang lulong sa insekuridad at walang kabusugang kasakiman,” Duterte said.</p><p>“The President now faces a profound crisis of confidence, especially in the way these corruption investigations are being handled, which appear to lack both direction and resolve,” she said.</p><p>“We also seek clear answers on how a budget that deprived Filipinos of billions and billions of pesos was approved under his watch,” she added.</p><p>Duterte told the public that she had a firsthand experience in how the House of Representatives allegedly mangled the annual budget during her tenure as secretary of the Department of Education.</p><p>“Sa halip na sundin ang listahan ng DepEd upang matugunan ang malalang kakulangan sa classrooms, mistulang ginawang pork barrel ang pondong nakalaan para sa kabataang Pilipino at pinaghati-hatian ng mga kongresistang malapit sa mga makapangyarihan,” she said.</p><p>“Pinili kong huwag sumali sa panggagago sa taong bayan. Sa aking pagbitiw bilang kalihim ng DepEd, ininda ko ang kaliwa’t kanan na atake, kasama na ang impeachment, para lamang mapagtakpan nila ang katiwalian sa 2025 budget,” she said.</p><p>The Vice President underscored that the call of the public for transparency and accountability needed to be heard and that “Filipinos deserve better” from the administration.</p><p>“Ang karapatan nating magsalita at magpahayag ang sandigan ng demokrasya. Dapat itong pakinggan ng pamahalaan. Hindi para isantabi at balewalain lamang. We Filipinos deserve better,” she said. </p><p>Duterte’s message comes days after former House Appropriations Committee chairperson and resigned Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co — who has been <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/in-video-zaldy-co-says-he-didn-t-get-any-money-from-flood-control-projects-1212">accused of receiving billions of kickbacks </a>from government projects — released a series of videos claiming that Marcos was among the officials who supposedly ordered him to siphon public funds through anomalous infrastructure programs.</p><div><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">Zaldy Co: Senate, Ombudsman should probe Romualdez and Marcos over alleged P100-B ‘insertion’</a></div><p>Malacañang has repeatedly denied Co’s accusations, saying that the former lawmaker’s statements were baseless unless the fugitive politician returns to the Philippines to place his claims under oath and present evidence before the proper authorities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/cbcp-calls-for-truth-justice-and-due-process-after-zaldy-co-s-allegations-0100">CBCP calls for ‘truth, justice and due process’ after Zaldy Co’s allegations</a></div><p>Marcos earlier said that the government would “immediately” cancel Co’s passport as soon as criminal charges have been filed against the former lawmaker.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/lacson-says-zaldy-co-s-corruption-claims-lack-weight-without-oath-1903">Lacson says Zaldy Co’s corruption claims lack weight without oath</a></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s alleged lack of “direction and resolve” in the investigation of corruption schemes surrounding anomalous flood control projects, saying that the Chief Executive now “faces a profound crisis of confidence.”</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s alleged lack of “direction and resolve” in the investigation of corruption schemes surrounding anomalous flood control projects, saying that the Chief Executive now “faces a profound crisis of confidence.”

‘Profound crisis of confidence’: Sara Duterte hits Marcos Jr.’s ‘lack of direction, resolve’ in corruption probe

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‘Profound crisis of confidence’: Sara Duterte hits Marcos Jr.’s ‘lack of direction, resolve’ in corruption probe

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 17, 2025 01:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

flood control projects

corruption

politics

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