PBBM remains firm on stance vs. flood control mess perpetrators

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro holds a press briefing on Wednesday (Feb. 11, 2026). She clarified that while President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. focuses on the economy, he remains committed to holding those responsible for the flood control mess accountable. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains firm in holding those responsible for alleged irregularities in flood control projects accountable, Malacañang said Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President has not lost interest in pursuing charges against individuals involved in the controversy.

Castro said Marcos has yet to finish reviewing the report of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), noting that the document is lengthy.

“Sa ngayon po ay hindi pa po tayo nabibigyan ng update kung natapos na pong mabasa dahil sa ating pagkakaalam ay medyo mahaba-haba po ang report ng ICI (As of now, we have not been given an update on whether the President has completed reading the report, as we understand it is quite lengthy),” she said.

Castro also refuted claims that the Palace has supposedly shifted its focus away from filing cases in connection with the flood control issue.

“On our part, on the part of the President, that’s not true. Hindi po nawawalan ng interes ang Pangulo sa pagpapanagot kung sinuman ang dapat na managot (The President is not losing interest in holding accountable whoever should be held accountable),” she said.

Castro stressed that while Marcos is focusing on improving the economy, he is not backing down on his commitment to seek accountability for the flood control mess.

She also explained that Marcos needs to redirect his attention amid the “noise” generated after he ordered a review of allegedly anomalous flood control projects and the possible misuse of funds.

“Talaga pong nagkaroon ng ingay at ini-expect naman po ng Pangulo iyan. Dahil kung galit po ang mga Pilipino sa korapsiyon, lalo pong mas galit ang ating Pangulo. At kailangan lang pong tutukan, move forward (The President expected that. If Filipinos are angry with corruption, the President is even angrier. But he also needs to focus and move forward),” Castro said.

“Ang sabi nga ng Pangulo, siya po ay tututok sa ekonomiya para naman po sa iba pa nating mga kababayan na hindi naman puro pulitika lang ang pinag-iisipan (As the President said, he will concentrate on the economy for the sake of our fellow citizens who are not focused solely on politics,” she added.