With only three years left in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, questions are being raised on whether his administration’s anti-corruption campaign—particularly the probe into anomalous flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—will be cemented as part of his political legacy.

“Hindi po ito ginagawa ng pangulo para magkaroon lamang ng legacy, ginagawa niya po ito dahil ito po ang kinakailangan, ginagawa niya po ito para sa taong bayan. Hindi para po magkaroon lamang ng legacy,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro.

When asked whether other government agencies notorious for corruption would also be investigated after the DPWH probe, Castro said the anti-corruption push is not confined to one department.

“Ang korapsyon naman po patungkol sa korapsyon ay hindi lamang para sa DPWH. Kung meron pong makikita at mabibigay na anumang reports tungkol sa anumang korapsyon ‘yan naman po ay talagang paiimbestigahan,” she added.

The issue has sparked further political debate after Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the President for waiting on the findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry (ICI) instead of immediately addressing the alleged “flood control mess.”

She earlier remarked: “Kung ikaw presidente ka tapos alam mo na kung ano ang nangyayari, nakikita mo based on the budget kung paano binababoy ‘yong pera ng bayan, magaantay ka pa ba ng commission, o truth commission, o ano pang commission?”

During the Palace press conference today, Usec. Castro responded to the Vice President’s earlier remark by stating that Marcos had already taken decisive steps on the issue.

“Siguro kakailanganin na niya po ng mataas na grado ng salamin o kaya hearing aid para madinig niya kung ano man ang lahat ng ginagawa at mga inuutos ng pangulo sa mga law enforcement agencies, sa mga investigating bodies kasama na po ang pag-buo ng ICI,” she said.

The Palace also defended its methodical approach, stressing that President Marcos is committed to due process.

“Ang pagiimbestiga ay hindi kailangan isang araw lang. Hindi naniniwala ang pangulo [Marcos Jr.] sa isang EJK style [na] walang imbestigahan, libingan ang hantungan. Ang gusto ng pangulo due process. Hindi dapat lamang puro salita, walang pangako,” Castro said, taking a swipe at the previous administration’s broken promises.

She further recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte himself admitted to failing in his pledge to eradicate corruption within three to six months of taking office.

“Umamin mismo ang dating pangulo na siya mismo ay korap. Inamin niyang nagnanakaw siya, pero naubos na. Itong article na to ay 2017. Halos isang taon after siya mangako na tatlong buwan hanggang anim na buwan matatapos ang korapsyon,” Castro said.

As the investigation into flood control projects continues, the Marcos administration faces mounting scrutiny—caught between calls for urgent action and its insistence on a careful, law-based approach.