Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Pres. Bongbong Marcos amid National Budget Mess in PH
MARCOS JR. – The President should not allow the congressmen to just go abroad or resign to “evade accountability” according to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, several senators and congressmen were linked to flood control corruption. Controversial contractors Pacifico Discaya and his wife, Sarah Discaya, mentioned several names of government officials who allegedly receive kickback from flood control deals.
Marcos Jr. previously revealed that the Philippines has already spent over P500 billion for the flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025. Unfortunately, despite the huge spending, several areas across the nation are usually left flooded when heavy rains hit the country.
According to the President, there are 15 contractors which got around P100 billion from the total expenses of the country on flood control deals. Some of the construction firms mentioned by the Chief Executive are owned by the Discayas.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives invited the contractors flagged by Marcos Jr. in their respective flood probes. Here are the 15 contractors flagged by the President:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
During a Senate flood investigation, the Discayas named several government officials as well as officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who allegedly demand a kickback from them on the flood control deals. The controversial contractors claimed that they allegedly have no choice but to ride on the alleged “system”.
Then-House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, Quezon City Cong. Arjo Atayde, Pasig Cong. Roman Romulo, and Marikina Cong. Marcy Teodoro are among those accused by the Discayas of allegedly receiving kickback from them on flood control projects. Co is already out of the country when the accusation against him was made.
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez recently resigned from being the House Speaker. According to him, his decision to step down is to give way for the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that was ordered by his cousin, Marcos Jr., to fully and freely exercise their mandate in the investigation of the flood control mess. Based on a report on Inquirer, amid the changes in the House leadership, the House committee chairmanships remain.
Amid the many corruption issues in the Philippines now, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos should not allow the congressmen to just go abroad or resign from their positions to “evade accountability”. According to her, it is evident in the lifestyle of some congressmen.
“Hindi niya dapat hinahayaan yung mga congressman na basta na lang umalis ng bansa o basta na lang mag-resign to evade accountability doon sa mga nakita natin na pag-chop-chop ng budget natin at pagkuha ng pera ng bayan para bumili sila ng mga properties, bumili sila ng mga jets, bumili sila ng properties abroad at lahat noong kanilang — na makikita natin sa lifestyle nila,” the Vice President said.
Also, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the Philippine government now allegedly has no stability following the Senate and House shakeup. The upper chamber also changed its leadership from Sen. Chiz Escudero to now-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto after some senators were dragged into the flood control mess.