MANILA – Malacañang slammed Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco for claiming that Vice President Sara Duterte would hold accountable those responsible for anomalies in flood control projects if she becomes President in 2028.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Tiangco’s statement “has no basis” and urged him to provide evidence before making such claims.

“Congressman Toby Tiangco says a lot of things but he has no evidence. He claims the Vice President will hold accountable those involved in irregularities in flood control projects, but there’s nothing to substantiate it,” Castro said.

She added that if Tiangco truly wanted to prove his claim, the Vice President could already act now by coordinating with former DPWH Secretary and current Senator Mark Villar to identify those allegedly involved in past ghost projects.

In response, Tiangco said he was surprised by Castro’s remarks, pointing out that President Marcos had previously called out those involved during his SONA and mentioned that “big fish” would face jail time.

“I’m surprised at her statement that there’s no evidence when it’s the President himself who called out those involved. Why is she saying now that there’s no evidence?” Tiangco told GMA News Online.

Tiangco also claimed that some House members are allegedly pushing for the Vice President’s impeachment not on principle but out of fear of being held accountable for past flood control projects should she win the 2028 elections. He said he filed House Resolution 894 to expedite the resolution of the impeachment case to focus on urgent matters, including the Middle East crisis.

For Castro, Tiangco should avoid spreading unverified claims that could harm government institutions.

“Maybe Congressman Tiangco is being misled, but he should not destroy the institution where he belongs. He should not malign others without evidence, as spreading fake news ultimately hurts the Filipino people,” she said.

The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions over accountability for past public infrastructure projects and the Vice President’s future political plans.