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Advocates Philippines
Marcos: 'Nobody Is More Important Than Filipinos' As He Pushes Independent Body To Tackle Flood Control Corruption
Screengrab from PCO
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced the formation of an independent commission to investigate alleged corruption in flood control projects, vowing to hold all involved accountable and to implement structural reforms to prevent such abuses from happening again.
Speaking in the latest episode of his podcast with Vicky Morales, Marcos revealed that while the commission does not yet have an official name, it will be fully independent and separate from agencies like the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“They will have all the powers necessary to reach a conclusion and establish the facts,” the President said. “We need to understand how this level of corruption became so normalized. It didn’t happen overnight—it evolved over decades.”
Marcos expressed outrage over reports that up to 70 percent of project funds are allegedly lost to corruption, leaving only a fraction for actual implementation. “That’s astounding. I can’t wrap my head around how we got here,” he said. The new body, he added, will have authority to investigate anyone—even lawmakers.
The President also highlighted the success of a government initiative that allows citizens to report irregularities directly to his office, noting that over 12,000 complaints have already been submitted. “At first, it was about flood control, but now people are reporting all sorts of anomalies—from road widening to paving projects,” he said.
Despite the depth of the problem, Marcos urged Filipinos not to lose hope. “There is hope,” he assured. “We’re doing everything we can to fix this. But the rot is deep—it’s been decades in the making.”
When asked if political allies or even relatives would be spared, Marcos was firm:
“Nobody is more important than Filipinos. Nobody—not me, not anybody. Whatever is good for the Filipino people, that’s what matters. Even if we have to break some eggs, we will do it.”
The President became visibly emotional as he spoke about the struggles of ordinary citizens. “You’re teary-eyed?” Morales asked. “Yes, because I’m very upset,” Marcos replied. “I see people having a hard time—and they don’t deserve it. They’re good, hardworking people. All they’ve ever done is work and love their families. Why punish them just so someone can get rich? That makes no sense to me.”
When asked if he regrets taking on the presidency despite these overwhelming challenges, Marcos responded without hesitation: “Not for one moment. I’ve been given the opportunity to actually do something about the problems I’ve complained about all my life. That’s the greatest privilege anyone can be given.”
Speaking in the latest episode of his podcast with Vicky Morales, Marcos revealed that while the commission does not yet have an official name, it will be fully independent and separate from agencies like the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“They will have all the powers necessary to reach a conclusion and establish the facts,” the President said. “We need to understand how this level of corruption became so normalized. It didn’t happen overnight—it evolved over decades.”
Marcos expressed outrage over reports that up to 70 percent of project funds are allegedly lost to corruption, leaving only a fraction for actual implementation. “That’s astounding. I can’t wrap my head around how we got here,” he said. The new body, he added, will have authority to investigate anyone—even lawmakers.
The President also highlighted the success of a government initiative that allows citizens to report irregularities directly to his office, noting that over 12,000 complaints have already been submitted. “At first, it was about flood control, but now people are reporting all sorts of anomalies—from road widening to paving projects,” he said.
Despite the depth of the problem, Marcos urged Filipinos not to lose hope. “There is hope,” he assured. “We’re doing everything we can to fix this. But the rot is deep—it’s been decades in the making.”
When asked if political allies or even relatives would be spared, Marcos was firm:
“Nobody is more important than Filipinos. Nobody—not me, not anybody. Whatever is good for the Filipino people, that’s what matters. Even if we have to break some eggs, we will do it.”
The President became visibly emotional as he spoke about the struggles of ordinary citizens. “You’re teary-eyed?” Morales asked. “Yes, because I’m very upset,” Marcos replied. “I see people having a hard time—and they don’t deserve it. They’re good, hardworking people. All they’ve ever done is work and love their families. Why punish them just so someone can get rich? That makes no sense to me.”
When asked if he regrets taking on the presidency despite these overwhelming challenges, Marcos responded without hesitation: “Not for one moment. I’ve been given the opportunity to actually do something about the problems I’ve complained about all my life. That’s the greatest privilege anyone can be given.”
Sep 7, 2025
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