Here are the comments Aiko Melendez received because of her statement.
Actress-turned-politician Aiko Melendez was criticized after she shared an insensitive comment about the flood control issue.
The flood control scandal in the Philippines involved billions of corrupt money, and since last year, people have been rallying to hold someone accountable for the massive theft of taxpayers’ money.
Contractors, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the members of the House of Representatives, and some senators and former senators were dragged into the scandal and are being investigated.
There are four known figures in the flood control scam who are now under the Witness Protection Program (WPP). They have turned over a total of PHP 316.3 million and pieces of evidence to aid the case. The four include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official Roberto Bernardo; DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) engineer Gerard Opulencia; former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara; and contractor Sally Santos.
Amid the ongoing investigation, no one yet imprisoned, Aiko Melendez left a remark that many deemed insensitive about the flood control issue. While she was criticized for calling Vice President Sara Duterte “Madam President,” she made this remark:
“at sa dami nangyayari naniniwala ka pa dn na nagkasolusyon sa flood control.”
Her remarks struck a nerve among many who have long suffered from the consequences of corruption in flood control projects. One commenter pointed out that people living in comfort can sometimes lose sight of the struggles faced by ordinary Filipinos.
Aiko’s remarks, to many, were dismissive and sarcastic toward a real issue. In the Philippines, flooding is not just an inconvenience. It has claimed lives, displaced families, destroyed homes, and caused long-term trauma, especially among poor and vulnerable communities.
It did not just trivialize suffering; it also mocked hope, which can feel insulting, and avoided accountability, making it appear like flooding is inevitable rather than the result of mismanagement and theft.
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