Manila, November 30 (AseanAll) — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring protest actions sparked by the flood control corruption scandal, said Philippine Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez, who stressed that the Chief Executive is determined to pursue accountability in the controversy he himself exposed.
“The President and the entire administration are monitoring the rallies. Kami in the government, we respect the people’s right to peaceably assemble and express their anger and frustration over these flood control issues. Kaisa nila kami,” Gomez said in an interview with ANC on November 30, 2025.
“Ito (protest actions) ay parte ng kanilang freedom of speech. So kami patuloy lang nagmo-monitor at sana manatiling mapayapa ‘yung mga rally at maging vigilant lang tayo na bantayan natin ‘yung ating mga hanay sa mga may masamang balak na manggulo,” the PCO chief added.
Protest actions are being held in Luneta and Mendiola in Manila, and at the People’s Monument on EDSA, calling for accountability over flood control project anomalies.
Gomez maintained that the President will not be distracted by the protests calling for more accountability in the corruption scandal.
“Well, the President will not be distracted by any of these calls for him to step down, to resign. He will finish the job, the job that he began. If you remember, it was the President himself who blew the whistle on these flood control anomalies in his ‘Mahiya naman kayo’ SONA (State of the Nation Address),” Gomez added.
“(President Marcos) is not blinking, and he will see this through. He will finish this. At sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, ‘Sinimulan ko ito, tapapusin ko ito,” the PCO chief noted.
At the same time, Gomez said the Palace acknowledged the growing public frustration over the flood control scandal and the surge of protests across the country, but noted that the government remains committed to addressing the issue thoroughly and responsibly.
“Ramdam namin ‘yung galit ng mga tao. Ramdam rin namin ang kanilang pagkainip. Sa mga dumadalo sa rally at mga dadalo pa sa mga ibang pagtitipon, ito lang ang masasabi ko: We feel you, we hear you, and we will not disappoint you. Tandaan lang natin, kailangan natin obserbahan ng due process sa lahat ng ito,” the PCO chief added.
Gomez pointed out that in the case of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, it took about a year for charges to be filed in court.
Only a few months after President Marcos’ 4th SONA, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) have recommended the filing of graft charges and sent to jail a number of alleged involved in ghost and anomalous flood control projects.
“Ngayon tatlong buwan pa lang simula nung binunyag ng ating Pangulo ito at marami nang nakasuhan at marami pang makakasuhan at meron ng mga nakulong at pangako nga ng Pangulo natin, bago mag-Pasko, mas marami pang makukulong. Kasama na diyan yung mga tinatawag nilang big fish,” Gomez noted.
He added that, “Ang importante lang talaga, mapatibay natin ‘yung ating mga ebidensya sa ating case build-up para this time around walang makakalusot sa mga nagnakaw sa bayan. Sisiguraduhin natin mananagot sila at mababawi natin yung kanilang mga ninakaw.”
Gomez maintained that the President will not dignify the claims of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the accused in the flood control case. Gomez said the fugitive ex-lawmaker must “return to the country to face the music, to face his arrest warrant, and swear under oath all these allegations.”
