Finance Secretary Ralph Recto assured the Senate on Thursday that officials involved in the anomalous flood control projects will be jailed before November 30, echoing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s warning that those behind the corruption scheme “will not have a Merry Christmas.”
During Senate deliberations on the 2026 national budget, Recto said he was confident that those who pocketed public funds would face jail time within 15 days after the conclusion of the three-month probe.
“Secretary Recto mentioned to me that that is an assurance to the Filipino people that justice will be served and people will be put in jail before November 30,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said while defending the ₱6.793-trillion spending plan.
Gatchalian emphasized that accountability is key to preventing future anomalies.
“Talagang walang matututo kung walang makukulong, at mauulit at mauulit lang ho ito kung hindi ho makukulong talaga,” he said.
He added that holding corrupt officials accountable would help restore trust in government and business confidence.
“Mawawalan po ng kumpiyansa ang business community and mga investors sa atin kung hindi ho natin gagawin ito… So it’s also an economic policy to hold people to account,” Gatchalian said.