PBBM ORDERS LIFESTYLE CHECKS AMID PROBE ON ANOMALOUS FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered lifestyle checks on government officials as part of his administration’s intensified anti-corruption drive amid alleged irregularities in flood control projects nationwide, Malacañang said Wednesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos emphasized the need for continuous scrutiny of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) records to uncover questionable projects.

“Ongoing din ang investigation ng pamahalaan upang matukoy ang mga nasa likod ng mga proyektong dapat sana ay makakatulong na solusyon ng malawakang pagbaha sa bansa,” Castro said.

To date, President Marcos has personally inspected 11 flood control projects in Marikina, Iloilo, Bulacan, and Benguet, following complaints submitted through sumbongsapangulo.ph.

As of 9 a.m. on August 27, the Palace has received at least 9,020 reports concerning flood control projects, Castro added.

Castro explained that the directive also signals oversight agencies such as the Commission on Audit (COA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and local government units (LGUs) to intensify their own inquiries.

Castro added that the Office of the Ombudsman, BIR, and the DPWH itself have the authority to conduct lifestyle checks within their respective jurisdictions.

“Sa bawat ahensya mayroon naman po na puwedeng magkaroon ng lifestyle check,” Castro said.

When asked who would be covered by the lifestyle check, Castro clarified that the process would initially focus on DPWH officials allegedly linked to anomalous projects but might extend to others involved.

“Kung sino po ‘yung mga ahensya na dapat magkaroon ng pag-lifestyle check, gawin po nila,” Castro said.The Palace urged the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting questionable flood control projects through sumbongsapangulo.ph to support the government’s efforts in curbing corruption.