‘Wheels of justice now turning’ amid anti-corruption drive – PCO chief

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

‘WHEELS OF JUSTICE’. Secretary Dave Gomez presents the proposed budget of PHP2.8 billion for 2026 of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and attached agencies before the Senate Committee on Finance on Oct. 10, 2025. In a television interview Tuesday night (Oct. 14), Gomez said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption campaign is gaining momentum, noting that the “wheels of justice are now turning.” (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Dave Gomez has emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption campaign is gaining momentum, noting that the “wheels of justice are now turning.”

In an interview with One News’ The Big Story aired Tuesday night, Gomez said the Marcos administration is implementing reforms and promoting transparency to restore public and investor confidence, amid persistent corruption issues hounding the government.

Gomez assured the public of Marcos’ commitment to pursue accountability and end the culture of corruption in government following the discovery of anomalous and non-existent flood control projects.

“The President is really very concerned about the impact to the economy of all this noise happening. We really need to reassure the people that the wheels of justice are turning,” he said.

“And I think if we can reassure the investing community, both local and international, that the government is doing everything it can to bring those responsible to justice and doing everything we can to institute genuine reforms to fix the system, I think the confidence will not erode and the economy will be pretty stable.”

Gomez said Marcos is the only sitting president to expose irregularities within his own administration and has since implemented decisive measures to curb corruption, including the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), tasked with investigating anomalies in flood control projects.

While Gomez acknowledged public concerns over the still unresolved controversy, he said “many things have happened” since Marcos disclosed the alleged irregularities.

“We must remember that was only two months and two weeks ago. And since then, a lot of things have happened. Marami nang nagawa ang executive at ang ating Pangulo (The executive branch and the President have done many accomplishments already),” the PCO chief added.

Gomez said over 20,000 reports from the public on ghost or substandard flood control projects have been lodged through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website launched by Marcos.

He added the licenses of the top 15 contractors who cornered the lion’s share of flood control projects have all been revoked, including couple Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya who are under criminal investigation and facing tax evasion charges.

Gomez also said Marcos has appointed a new Public Works Secretary and reshuffled the composition of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board.

“And sabi nga ng Pangulo natin, walang sasantuhin dito. Nakita naman natin na ang Pangulo, galit na, pagod na siya, and he wants people na managot. Walang kamag-anak, walang kaibigan, walang sasantuhin. Gusto niya lahat managot (And as our President said, no one will be spared here. We have seen that the President is angry and tired. He demands accountability. There will be no sacred cows – no relatives, no friends. He wants everyone to be held accountable),” he said.

Gomez also welcomed the results of the latest OCTA Research’s survey, which showed that 83 percent of the respondents expressed support for President Marcos’ actions to expose anomalies in flood control projects.

“We must remember that it was the President himself who blew the whistle on this issue,” he said.