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VP Duterte calls Marcos' actions vs. alleged corruption in flood control projects 'slow'

Vivienne Gulla

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA —  Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she wants “immediate action” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former political ally, on alleged anomalies in flood control projects. </p><p>Marcos Jr. called out the alleged corruption in his State of the Nation Address in July and has created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to probe anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>“Pag ikaw presidente ba, tapos alam mo na kung anong nangyayari. Tapos makikita mo na based on the budget kung paano binaboy ‘yung pera ng bayan, mag-aantay ka pa ba ng… kung anong komisyon ‘yan? Aksyunan mo kaagad dapat ‘yan,” Duterte said.</p><p>(If you are President, you know what is happening. And then you see, based on the budget, the disrespect of taxpayers&#x27; money and you will wait for a commission&#x27;s findings? You should take action immediately)</p><p>She said Marcos Jr. doesn&#x27;t need an investigative body because the budget is proof enough. </p><p>“‘Di ba dapat nun deretso mo na gawin, tanggalin mo na ‘yung Speaker mo… sabihan mo na ‘yung mga kaalyado mo sa House of Representatives, ayusin n’yo na ‘yung budget, tapos… mag-lifestyle check ka na dyan sa mga congressman at sa mga staff nila,” she added.</p><p>(Based on that, shouldn&#x27;t you remove the Speaker? Tell your allies at the House of Representatives and conduct a lifestyle check on House members and their staff)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/sara-duterte-shows-up-at-house-budget-briefing-0933"><strong>Sara Duterte shows up at House budget briefing, clashes with minority solons</strong></a></div><p>She also criticized House Speaker Martin Romualdez, claiming there was “racketeering” in the national budget under his leadership. She said he should be replaced.</p><p>Duterte said Marcos Jr. does not seem to know what to do and is too slow to act when the country wants quick action.</p><p>“Actually, hindi na nga siya too little too late e. Nothing na nga siya. Nothingness na ang ginagawa ngayon,” Duterte noted.</p><p>(Actually, this is not &#x27;too little, too late&#x27;. This is &#x27;doing nothing&#x27;.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/vp-sara-shares-talks-with-dad-about-politics-but-mum-if-he-s-still-sharp-1342"><strong>Still sharp? VP Sara shares talks with dad about politics but mum on his health</strong></a></div><p>On Monday, some House members claimed a majority of the House continues to support House Speaker Romualdez.</p><p>The lower chamber, under Romualdez, in the 19th Congress, impeached VP Duterte, but the Senate archived the articles of impeachment, after the Supreme Court nullified it.</p><p>The SC decision on the petition filed by Duterte and other petitioners is on appeal.</p><p>Duterte said she expects impeachment efforts against her to continue, saying “this is all about the presidential elections of 2028.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;VP DUTERTE MAY NEED GLASSES, HEARING AID&#x27;<br/></strong></div><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro meanwhile did not mince words as she responded to Duterte&#x27;s comments the Marcos administration&#x27;s initiatives over the flood control fiasco.</p><p>She told reporters that Duterte may have been &quot;living in a cave&quot; for not knowing that the President has already issued orders to the ICI, law enforcement agencies and other investigating bodies.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/dpwh-to-file-raps-vs-18-personnel-contractors-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-0804"><strong>DPWH files raps vs 25 personnel, contractors tagged in flood control mess<br/></strong></a></div><p>She also said Duterte may need glasses or a hearing aid to be more updated on the administration&#x27;s actions.</p><p>“Nakikita po ng taumbayan kung paano po ba ang pagtugon ng Pangulo sa mga hinaing ng kababayan natin especially tungkol sa maanomalyang flood control projects,” she said. </p><p>(The people see how the President has been responding to their complaints, especially on anomalous flood control projects)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PALACE: MARCOS JR. WANTS DUE PROCESS</strong></div><p>Castro reiterated that Marcos does not want a rushed investigation, taking a swipe at Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>“Hindi po naniniwala ang Pangulo sa isang EJK (extrajudicial killing)-style, walang imbestigahan, libingan ang hantungan. Ang gusto ng Pangulo, due process. At hindi po dapat lamang na puro salita or kaya pangako,” she noted.</p><p>(The President does not believe in the EJK style where there is no investigation and people are sent straight to the grave. The President wants due process and not just talk and promises)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/30/most-filipinos-say-icc-must-prioritize-justice-for-ejk-victims-over-marcos-duterte-rivalry-2051"><strong>Most Filipinos say ICC must prioritize justice for EJK victims over Marcos-Duterte rivalry — WR Numero survey</strong></a></div><p>The Palace official also took a swipe at the previous administration for failing to address corruption.</p><p>“Kung mayroon naman pong sistema ang Bise Presidente kung paano agarang masusugpo ang korapsyon na ito, sana po ay hiniling niya na rin po ito at ibinigay sa kaniyang ama. Pero bakit hindi kaya?” she said.</p><p>(If the Vice President has ideas on how to quickly address corruption, she should have suggested that to her father. I wonder why she didn&#x27;t)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/05/21/dutertes-2017-corruption-admission-a-joke-palace"><strong>Duterte admitted corruption in 2017? Palace says it was &#x27;a joke&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>Castro went further by showing a printed article from 2017 bearing the headline “Duterte: I am also corrupt”, which she said was published after then President Duterte promised a swift end to corruption in government. </p><p>”Sasabihin natin kung ano ang sinabi niya rito, and I quote, &#x27;Hindi ako nagmamalinis, marami rin akong nanakaw pero naubos na so wala na.&#x27; So, 2017 ito, sana naibigay na rin niya sa kaniyang ama kung paano agarang masusugpo ang korapsyon,” Castro noted.</p><p>(I will read what he said here, and I quote: &quot;I will not to be clean. I have also stolen a lot, but have used it all up.&quot; This was in 2017. She should have given her suggestions back then)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/sara-duterte-urged-explain-confidential-fund-use-in-2026-house-budget-deliberations-1704"><strong>Sara Duterte urged to explain confidential fund use in 2026 House budget deliberations</strong></a></div><p>“Tanungin natin: May moral ascendancy ba ang Bise Presidente pagdating sa usapin ng korapsyon? Iyon lang po,” Castro also said.</p><p>(Let&#x27;s ask: Does the Vice President have moral ascendancy when it comes to corruption? That is all.)</p><div><br/></div><div><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/Gbo5weDetp8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she wants “immediate action” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former political ally, on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she wants “immediate action” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former political ally, on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

VP Duterte: Marcos Jr. too slow on alleged corruption in flood control projects

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VP Duterte: Marcos Jr. too slow on alleged corruption in flood control projects

Vivienne Gulla,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 17, 2025 02:51 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 17, 2025 08:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Flood control projects

Corruption

Claire Castro

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