The Tamesis
March 6, 2026
Manila – Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday criticized the “deafening silence” from civil society and other groups over extraordinary corruption allegations involving infrastructure and flood control projects, as the House of Representatives continued to move forward with impeachment complaints against her.
Duterte issued a statement praising former Zaldi security personnel who recently came forward.
Lawyer Levito Baligod introduced the 18 men at a news conference, who identified themselves as former Philippine Marines and claimed they acted as “salesmen” in offering an unusual 805 billion pesos in kickbacks to several lawmakers as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for unusual flood control projects.
“While the allegations against me were immediately at the center of hearings, privileged speeches and ruthless fishing expeditions under purported ‘assisted legislation’ investigation, the silence now seems deafening,” Duterte said.
She added: “The silence from civil society groups who have been quick to issue statements in the past, religious leaders who are willing to stand up on ethical issues, and lawmakers who say they support transparency and accountability is shocking.”
“Furthermore, the current administration appears to have no interest or immediate action to investigate the truth behind billions in bribes related to flood control, [International Criminal Court]and the impeachment efforts against me,” the Vice President further lamented.
Duterte stressed that anger over corruption should not be “selective.”
“You don’t get to choose who you investigate. You can’t remain silent when those involved are close to power. People’s money should not be left in a suitcase and the truth should not be hidden,” she added.
In his 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona), Marcos announced the completion of 5,000 flood control projects across the country. However, the flooding that occurred during and after Typhoon Karina that year cast doubt on this claim.
A year later, at the fourth Sona meeting on July 28, 2025, Marcos publicly denounced government officials suspected of corruption in flood control projects.
The Office of the Ombudsman has since filed two cases with the Sandiganbayan related to flood control projects, one involving Co and the other involving former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., as well as several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Meanwhile, another case involving controversial contractor Cezarah Discaya and other DPWH officials has been filed before the Regional Court of First Instance.
Currently, all three cases are pending.
Meanwhile, the House of Commons recently filed impeachment complaints against Duterte and recently declared them to be sufficient in form and substance. /das
