Vice President Sara Duterte has challenged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to broaden the government’s anti-corruption probe, saying that if he is truly serious, the investigation should not only revolve around the controversial flood control projects.
During her visit to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte—currently detained at The Hague in the Netherlands—VP Duterte asserted that the administration must also look into the questionable formulation of the 2025 national budget.
“Let’s not stop with flood control projects. Back in 2024, last year, I already said that even just the Department of Education’s school building program was being divided among members of the House of Representatives, but no one reacted…until now, no one is speaking up, no one is investigating,” she said.
While she expressed support for President Marcos Jr.’s directive to conduct lifestyle checks on all government officials, she insisted that the effort should be more expansive.
“Oo, dapat lang. At hindi lang yung elected public officials ha pati ‘yung mga appointed public officials at hindi lang ‘yung on the surface na sasabihin natin kung ano yung nasa SALN, dapat deep dive,” Duterte added.
Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered lifestyle checks following reports of massive irregularities in flood control projects, where billions in public funds were allegedly lost to corruption.