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The Marcos administration defended its anti-corruption campaign on Tuesday, rejecting claims that only “small fry” have faced justice in the ongoing flood control scandal that has rocked the Philippines in recent months.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro pushed back against criticism during an interview on “News and Views” on One News, calling such accusations “propaganda against the President.” She highlighted several achievements in the administration’s corruption crackdown, which began four months ago when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered investigations into allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
“Is [arrested contractor Sarah] Discaya a small fry? Is [resigned lawmaker] Zaldy Co, who is now in hiding, a small fry? They are not small fry,” Castro stated, pointing to significant progress in the investigations.
The controversy has implicated numerous government officials, contractors, and legislators in an alleged scheme involving billions of pesos in kickbacks from non-existent or substandard flood control infrastructure projects across the country.
Sarah Discaya, a contractor facing graft and malversation charges over a non-existent project worth P96.5 million, was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on December 18 and remains detained in Cebu. Meanwhile, former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, who resigned in September, has a standing arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan related to a questionable flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. According to authorities, Co has fled the country, allegedly to evade threats to his life.
Castro noted that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended filing additional cases, which are currently under investigation by the Ombudsman. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has also filed cases directly with the anti-graft body.
Despite these developments, opposition lawmakers remain unimpressed with the government’s efforts. The Akbayan party-list used a fishing metaphor to criticize the administration, saying that only anchovies (dilis) and ponyfish (sapsap) have been arrested while “sharks who stole billions from state coffers remain free.”
The Makabayan bloc went further, dismissing the administration’s promise to prosecute those behind the flood control scandal as “empty rhetoric” intended to divert attention from its “failures.”
Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Elijah San Fernando called for the administration to expand its focus beyond DPWH officials and contractors, urging authorities to pursue lawmakers allegedly involved in corruption-tainted projects.
The criticism comes after President Marcos boldly predicted in November that most individuals charged in connection with the flood control controversy would spend Christmas in jail. This statement has become a point of contention as critics argue that only lower-level figures have faced arrest thus far.
The flood control scandal emerged as one of the most significant corruption cases in recent Philippine history, with initial investigations revealing billions of pesos potentially lost to phantom projects, overpriced contracts, and kickback schemes. The controversy has particularly significant implications for a country frequently devastated by typhoons and flooding, where functioning flood control infrastructure is crucial for public safety.
Castro defended the administration’s record, suggesting critics are focusing only on negatives while ignoring significant achievements made before the Christmas holiday. The government maintains that the investigation continues to progress and that more significant arrests and recoveries are forthcoming.
As the case unfolds, it continues to test President Marcos’s campaign promises to combat corruption, with political observers closely watching whether the investigation will eventually reach higher-level officials allegedly involved in the scandal.
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8 Comments
Interesting to see the administration push back against the ‘small fry’ criticism. Rooting out corruption at all levels is critical, so it’s good to hear they’ve made some high-profile arrests already. Curious to see how the investigations unfold and if more senior officials are implicated.
While the administration’s defense has some merit, I agree that more transparency around the investigations and their outcomes would go a long way. The public deserves to see clear evidence that the government is serious about tackling corruption at all levels, not just political theater.
It’s good to see the government taking action on this flood control scandal. Corruption siphons away critical resources that could be used to improve infrastructure and services. Hopefully this is the start of a sustained effort to promote transparency and accountability in the public sector.
While the administration may have a point about some of the arrests not being ‘small fry’, the proof will be in the outcomes of the investigations and prosecutions. I hope they can demonstrate a genuine commitment to rooting out graft at all levels, not just scapegoating lower-level officials.
It’s encouraging to see the government taking action on this scandal, but the proof will be in the outcomes. I hope they can demonstrate a genuine commitment to accountability, rather than just targeting ‘small fry’ to appease public demands. Comprehensive reform is needed to address entrenched corruption.
Dismissing criticisms as ‘propaganda’ is a concerning response. The public deserves a more substantive defense of the administration’s anti-corruption efforts. Transparency around the investigations and their outcomes would go a long way in building trust and demonstrating a commitment to the rule of law.
While the administration touts the arrests so far, the real test will be whether this leads to meaningful reforms and lasting change. Rooting out systemic corruption is a long-term challenge that requires a sustained, impartial effort – not just high-profile announcements.
This crackdown on the flood control scandal seems like a positive step, though the true test will be whether it leads to meaningful accountability for all involved, regardless of their position. Addressing entrenched corruption is challenging, but necessary for the country’s long-term development.