MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that resigning from government service does not absolve officials allegedly involved in irregularities in flood control projects, emphasizing that accountability must be determined through due process.

In his latest podcast episode, the President dismissed the notion that stepping down from office frees individuals from responsibility.

“No, that’s not enough. That’s not enough,” Marcos said when asked if resigning clears officials of culpability.

He underscored the gravity of the alleged anomalies, noting that the issue goes beyond financial losses.

“There is a great deal of damage that has been caused, not only financial damage or economic damage, but damage, actual damage to people’s lives,” he added.

The Marcos administration has launched a comprehensive review of flood control projects across the country following reports of questionable fund allocations and alleged collusion between contractors and government officials.

To address these concerns, the President created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate the alleged anomalies.

In its interim reports, the ICI urged the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend graft charges against 18 individuals, including resigned lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, over a PHP289.5-million substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co, who has been at the center of the controversy, has vehemently denied the accusations. (PNA)