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Communications Secretary Dave Gomez insists President Marcos Jr. “will not be distracted” by calls to resign over the flood control scandal.

Bold words, but anyone who heard Gomez on radio knows otherwise.

His voice wavers. He circles back to talking points. He leans heavily on memorized lines.

Even his promise of a “Christmas deadline to jail flood control suspects” sounded forced and unconvincing.

A few days ago, during live TV, he puffed a vape, an unguarded moment revealing just how tense and under pressure he really is.

Every hesitation, every pause, every puff betrays the words he utters: the Palace is rattled.

Meanwhile, Palace undersecretary Claire Castro doubles down on spin, insisting former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin resigned, even after Bersamin publicly said he was fired.

Castro parrots templated denials, struggles to answer direct questions, and contradicts facts.

The public sees a communications team pretending to be composed while failing at the most basic task: conveying facts credibly.

Gomez says Marcos “blew the whistle” on anomalies and respects protesters’ rights, yet that does not explain why billions vanished, overpriced projects persisted, and “big fish” went unpunished.

Leadership prevents corruption. It does not wait for headlines to dictate action.

Former Rep. Zaldy Co named Usec Adrian Bersamin, DepEd Usec Trygve Olaivar, and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in the alleged P100-billion budget insertion scheme.

He cited phone calls, meetings in Aguado, and deliveries in Forbes Park. Yet none of them have challenged these claims publicly.

If none of this happened, why not clear their names immediately? Why hasn’t the administration launched an investigation?

Silence speaks louder than denials.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson added urgency. He confirmed the ₱100-billion bicam insertion but rejected Co’s claim that 25 percent went to the President.

Based on information from former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo, Lacson said certain Palace underlings, acting without authority, misrepresented the President. He named Adrian Bersamin and Olaivar.

Bernardo indicated that some cash deliveries involved Olaivar’s armored van, with Bersamin possibly accompanying him.

Lacson described the routine, with each having an armored van meeting at the Diamond Hotel basement where cash was transferred, ₱800 million to ₱2 billion per drop, repeated at least ten times.

Yet the glaring question remains whether Filipinos are expected to believe that if ₱25 billion in kickbacks were involved, it all ended with just two minor Palace underlings acting alone.

No one credible buys that. Money of that magnitude never stops at the lowest rung.

The abrupt exit of several officials contradicts Gomez’s claim that the President is “undistracted.”

ES Bersamin says he was fired, and the public deserves to know why.

Pangandaman, Olaivar, and Adrian Bersamin, according to Palace statements, resigned, but the circumstances remain unclear.

Even with continuous denials, most of those named by Co are now out of government.

Why were they fired or allowed to leave? Who's next?

Every unexplained exit erodes credibility.

This is not a defense of Co. He appears to have participated in the scheme.

But the bigger question remains: if Co is guilty, who empowered him? Who approved his appointment as House Appropriations chairman?

Pretending he acted alone insults the public’s intelligence.

Internal fractures worsen the crisis. Some of the President’s own people appear to be quietly undermining him.

Leaks, resignations, and inconsistencies tell a story Gomez’s wavering delivery cannot hide.

Watching Gomez and Castro is like watching a press team unravel.

Gomez hesitates, repeats lines, and fumbles.

Castro parrots denials while contradicting facts.

They claim expertise, but their performance betrays them. Spin cannot cover panic.

The Palace communications team urgently needs a reset. Clear, factual messaging must replace rehearsed soundbites.

Every claim should be verified, contradictions addressed immediately, and spokespersons trained to respond confidently.

Transparent timelines, proactive updates, and evidence-based statements will restore credibility.

If the current mouthpiece continues a style that fails to generate goodwill and creates more enemies for the President, no matter how close that person is to him, it may be necessary to bring in a new voice.

This is not personal.

It’s about enabling the government to communicate effectively, regain public trust, and ensure accountability is understood, not just promised.

Tens of thousands are marching. Retired generals are warning. Lawmakers demand answers.

Yet the Palace clings to recycled soundbites, vague promises, and contradictions. Every misstep exposes a communications team in disarray, and a government scrambling to manage its own narrative.

Until Malacañang abandons amateurish spin and communicates with honesty, clarity, and accountability, the public will continue to see through the act.

Simple lamang and dapat gawin ng Palasyo. Mag-ulat ng matapat, puro katotohanan, at may pananagutan.

Walang puwang ang palusot at pakitang-tao sa gobyernong dapat kumikilos para sa bayan, hindi para sa sarili.

Ed Javier

Ed Javier is a veteran communicator with over 35 years of experience in corporate, government, and advocacy communications, spanning the terms of seven Philippine presidents. He is also a political analyst, entrepreneur, and media professional. Drawing on this experience, he delivers clear, accessible analysis of political, governance, and business issues.