President Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to ensure strong evidence before filing cases against individuals linked to the alleged flood control scam, warning that haste could lead to acquittals due to technicalities.

Speaking at the Kapihan with the Media session in Kuala Lumpur, the President said that while there is public pressure to immediately detain and prosecute those accused of corruption, due process must prevail to guarantee accountability.

“We have now moved from the political arena to the legal one,” Marcos said. “If we rush to file weak cases and they win because of technicalities, those who stole billions from the government could walk free. That would be a much worse result.”

Marcos noted that cases must go through proper procedures — from complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice to preliminary investigations — to ensure airtight evidence before reaching the courts.

He cautioned against filing cases merely to satisfy public clamor, stressing that doing so could jeopardize the entire prosecution effort.

“We only get one chance at this. If the case collapses, we can’t charge them again because of double jeopardy,” the President explained. “It’s better to do it right than to do it quickly.”

The president underscored that the government is committed to holding accountable those who misused public funds and to recovering stolen assets for the Filipino people. However, he reiterated that the process takes time.

“The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind very well,” Marcos said, expressing confidence that solid preparation will ensure lasting results.