Vice President Sara Duterte has cast doubt on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s seriousness in curbing corruption in the Philippines and holding accountable those implicated in anomalous flood control projects.
In an interview in Davao City, Duterte said that while she had no comment on the resignation of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez as House Speaker, she criticized Marcos for allowing certain lawmakers linked to questionable flood control projects and suspicious budget insertions in the 2025 national budget to leave the country instead of answering the allegations. She was referring to Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who is currently in the United States purportedly for “medical treatment.”
“Oh, well, wala akong reaction sa resignation niya, ‘no. Meron lang akong reaction sa kung ano yung ginagawa ni BBM. 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.
Meanwhile, Duterte has yet to issue a statement regarding the latest report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), which revealed that she received campaign donations from several government contractors during her 2022 vice-presidential bid under the UniTeam alliance with Marcos.