Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday branded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s crackdown on anomalous flood control projects as a “zarzuela” and a “circus,” while urging that lifestyle checks be conducted on all elected and appointed officials, not just those in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to fully uncover corruption in government.
In an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Vice President Duterte said the lifestyle checks ordered by President Marcos should include all elected and appointed officials in government, not only those in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). She added that the probe should also extend beyond flood control projects to cover all government infrastructure spending.
“Yes, there should be [a lifestyle check] and it should not only include elected public officials but also appointed public officials. It should not only be on the surface, on what is declared in the SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth). It should deep dive, whoever are the dummies. The dummies of public officials should be exposed,” Vice President Duterte said.
She questioned the decision to focus the investigation on flood control projects, saying corruption exists across the government budget and projects. Vice President Duterte also backed the move of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno against Manila Rep. Joel Chua, stressing that contractors of ghost projects should be held accountable.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said each agency would conduct lifestyle checks, which she stressed would not spare administration allies.
Several lawmakers supported President Marcos’ directive. Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said lifestyle checks should include the judiciary. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva both said they agreed with extending the checks to Congress and the judiciary.
President Marcos earlier directed lifestyle checks on DPWH officials following reports of substandard and ghost flood control projects.