MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declared Monday that there will be "no sacred cows" in the sweeping investigation of anomalous flood control projects, vowing that even his cousin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and other political allies will face scrutiny from a newly formed independent commission.

"Well, there's only one way to do it – they will not be spared," Marcos said firmly during a press briefing at Malacañang when asked about ensuring impartiality in the probe. 

"Wala tayong kinikilingan, wala tayong tinutulungan. Wala naman maniniwala sa iyo hanggat gawin mo eh, so gagawin namin" (We will not side with anyone, we will not help anyone. No one will believe you unless you do it, so we'll do it).

The President's stark pledge comes as the newly established Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) prepares to investigate what officials describe as widespread corruption in the government's multi-billion peso flood control program, with ghost projects and anomalous contracts allegedly bleeding taxpayer funds dry.

High-stakes probe targets powerful figures

The commission, created through Executive Order No. 94 signed on September 11, has drawn immediate attention to several high-profile lawmakers implicated in the scandal. 

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco has specifically named Speaker Romualdez and former House appropriations committee chairman Zaldy Co of the Ako Bicol party-list as central figures in questionable budget insertions worth billions of pesos.

Co, who was an incorporator of Sunwest Inc. – the fifth leading flood control contractor in the Bicol Region before reportedly divesting from the firm – has branded the accusations as "baseless and irresponsible," calling them "politically motivated" attempts to "mislead the public and deflect accountability."

Similarly, Romualdez dismissed claims that his name was used to secure commissions in flood control projects as "false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping." 

The Speaker, who leads the House of Representatives, has pledged full cooperation with the investigation while maintaining his innocence.

Independent Commission gets broad powers

ICI is chaired by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., with members former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV & Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong serves as Special Adviser and Investigator to the commission. 

The commission has been granted sweeping powers to investigate "anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds" in government infrastructure projects, with particular focus on flood control initiatives implemented over the past decade.

Significantly, the probe will span multiple administrations, covering the final years of President Benigno Aquino III's "Private-Public Partnership Program," former President Rodrigo Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure push, and Marcos' current "Build Better More" program.

"What I want to stress here is the independent nature of this commission," PBBM emphasized. 

"Hindi kami makikialam sa trabaho nila (We will not meddle in their work). We are not going to direct them as to how they will conduct their investigations, and we are going to leave it up to them."

Billions at stake as reforms take shape

The corruption scandal has prompted immediate policy changes, with Marcos ordering the cancellation of all flood control allocations for 2026. 

Instead, legislators will receive a "menu" of alternative projects covering education, agriculture, health, housing, and other social services using funds previously earmarked for flood control.

The President also announced the restoration of a safeguard requiring local government units to formally accept projects before they are marked as complete by the Department of Public Works and Highways – a rule that was reportedly removed during the previous administration.

"We are trying to move as quickly as possible," Marcos said, describing the reforms as "a turning point in the conduct of governance in the Philippines."

Congressional response mixed as political tensions rise

House Speaker Romualdez has publicly expressed support for the commission while maintaining his chamber's commitment to transparency. "I fully support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s statement that no one is exempt from accountability," he said in a statement. "The House under my leadership will never be a sanctuary for corruption."

However, political tensions continue to simmer within Congress. Cavite Representative Kiko Barzaga recently resigned from the National Unity Party and the majority bloc, specifically citing the need for Romualdez to be investigated first.

The controversy has also spilled into the Senate, where lawmakers clashed over the custody of Brice Hernandez, a former Department of Public Works and Highways assistant district engineer whose revelations implicated several high-ranking officials and senators in the alleged schemes.

Public trust hangs in the balance

With billions of pesos in taxpayer money at stake, the ICI's work represents a crucial test of the Marcos administration's commitment to good governance and accountability. 

The commission's findings could reshape Philippine politics and infrastructure policy while determining whether the country can break decades-old patterns of corruption in public works projects.

"Accountability is key here," Romualdez acknowledged in his statement supporting the probe. "Those who must be held responsible should answer for their actions. Above all, public trust in government must be preserved."

As floodwaters continue to batter Filipino communities, the investigation promises to reveal whether the billions spent on flood control actually reached their intended destinations – or disappeared into the pockets of corrupt officials and contractors.

The commission is expected to begin its work immediately, with PBBM promising regular updates on its progress while maintaining strict non-interference in its operations. 

For a country long plagued by infrastructure corruption scandals, the ICI's success or failure may well determine the administration's legacy on transparency and good governance.

‍