President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for accountability over failed flood control projects, saying those responsible must answer for the suffering of Filipinos.
Speaking in Episode 3 of the BBM Podcast aired Monday, Marcos Jr. said his decision to highlight the issue in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) came after witnessing the impact of substandard or unfinished projects during typhoon visits.
“It started last December, noong umiikot ako dahil nga sunod-sunod ‘yung bagyo at nakikita natin kung talagang napakabigat ng ulan. Noong nangyari na naman itong bagyo ngayon, pagpunta ko, nakita ko hindi nagagawa. Akala ko ba mayroon tayong nilagay dito? Hindi pa naumpisahan’ or whatever, the usual excuses,” he recounted.
“Sabi ko kalokohan na ito. Maliwanag na hindi ginagawa ang trabaho.”
The President shared scenes from evacuation centers where families were crammed into gyms, children slept on concrete floors, and the elderly were exposed to heat and illness. “Hindi natin ginagawa dapat ito sa kababayan natin. Kasalanan na ito,” he added.
While he did not name names, Marcos Jr. said some individuals involved are already “notorious” for corruption.
“Mayroong dapat naman managot dahil sa dinadaanan na hirap, na dinadanas ng ating mga kababayan. They have to be told who is responsible and somebody has to answer for their suffering,” he said.
The Chief Executive also warned that political allies won’t be spared: “Sorry na lang. Hindi na kita kaalyado kung ganyan ang ginagawa mo. Ayaw na kitang kaalyado.”
During his July 28 SONA, Marcos Jr. received loud applause when he condemned corruption in flood control projects, citing schemes like “kickbacks, errata, SOP, for the boys.”IMT
