MANILA — Malacañang assured the public that the government is building airtight cases against those involved in alleged anomalous and ghost flood control projects, saying President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is determined to see the investigations through.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said the administration wants to avoid a repeat of past corruption cases such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, where some individuals were eventually cleared.

“’Yan ang iniiwasan natin. Kaya nga sinasabi ko…kailangan matibay talaga ‘yung kaso na ihahain natin. So, sa ngayon, nag-build up tayo ng ating mga kaso, nag-iipon tayo ng mga ebidensya, and hopefully, the evidence will lead us to conviction of these people and mabawi natin yung kanilang mga ninakaw,” Gomez said in an interview over DZMM.

He said Marcos remains fully committed to completing the anti-corruption campaign he initiated and holding accountable those who misused public funds.

“Narinig natin ang Pangulo noong huling ulat niya, at sabi nga niya na sinimulan ko ito at tatapusin ko ito. Ang Pangulo natin, hindi siya kukurap sa kahit anong mangyari. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang trabaho natin na panagutin ang dapat managot, bawiin ang mga ninakaw na yaman, at repormahin ang ating sistema,” he said. “Tuloy-tuloy ‘yan, hindi kukurap ang Pangulo hanggang sa huli. Sinimulan niya ito at tatapusin niya ito.”

Gomez noted that while only one case has so far resulted in arrest warrants — including one against former lawmaker Zaldy Co — several other investigations are underway.

“Nakita natin na naglabas na ‘yung mga arrest warrants kasama yung kay Zady Co, at may mga nahuli na at nakakulong na as we speak,” he said.

He added that probes by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are nearing completion, with more cases expected to be filed before the Ombudsman.

“Ngayon isang kaso pa lang yun. Alam natin na napakaraming kaso ang iniimbestigahan ngayon ng ICI at ng DPWH at malapit ng isampa sa Ombudsman yung iba. Iba ay naka pending na sa Ombudsman. Ang Ombudsman naman nakapaghain na ng reklamo sa Sandiganbayan. Kaya na-release na itong arrest warrants na ito,” he said. “So marami pa in the coming days and ginagarantiyahan ko sa inyo ang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, magkakatotoo ‘yun bago mag-Pasko.”

Gomez also said the President will not be swayed by calls for him to resign.

“Ang ating Pangulo ay hindi madi-distract sa mga ganyang panawagan. Mayroon siyang responsibilidad na dapat gampanan. Ito ay tugisin yung mga may sala dito sa anti-corruption campaign na ito,” he said.

He added that the administration understands the public’s anger and impatience but emphasized that the government will deliver results.

“Although yung mga calls na yan, yung mga reklamo ng sambayanan, nararamdaman namin, naririnig namin sila. Alam namin galit sila, alam namin na naiinip na sila. Pero this is what I can say: we hear you, we feel you, and we will not disappoint you. The President will not disappoint you,” Gomez said.

Leave a comment

Trending