Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday warned of possible economic sabotage charges against contractors and officials found responsible for major anomalies in flood control projects, saying he is 'angry' over how anomalies have deprived Filipinos of critical infrastructure and basic services.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Commission on Audit (COA) earlier ordered a fraud audit of all flood-control projects in Bulacan province, which received the largest share of funding in Central Luzon from 2022 to 2025. This follows Marcos' declaration in his State of the Nation Address in July to implement a sweeping audit of all multi-billion-peso flood control projects. The President said his legal team would study the COA findings and is seriously considering charges.
'For the big ones I'm thinking very hard na pipilahan natin sila ng economic sabotage. tignan natin ah, 'yung utang ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas, mababawasan kung naging maayos lahat ito (For the big cases, I'm seriously considering filing economic sabotage charges. Government debts could have been reduced if these were done properly),' he said. He also urged the public to continue to report anomalies on flood control projects through the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday urged a wider investigation into alleged 'ghost' flood control projects, warning that anomalies may extend beyond Bulacan to other provinces. Estrada said public funds may have been allocated to areas that are not even flood-prone.
'Hindi lang ito nangyayari sa Bulacan. Dapat imbestigahan din natin yung mga lugar na nabagsakan ng pondo na hindi naman flood-prone (This is not only happening in Bulacan. We should also investigate areas that received funds even if they are not flood-prone),' he said in a radio interview. Estrada said the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Commission on Audit must tighten coordination to prevent fraudulent undertakings, adding that contractors could also identify politicians who may have benefited.
