President Marcos has already laid out the system in the investigation of corruption-ridden flood-control projects, thus he no longer needs to designate someone to lead it. 

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this on Thursday, Aug. 14, as a response to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong's recommendation to appoint a lead investigator for the flood-control probe, which he is willing to take. 

Instead of leading the investigation, Castro urged Magalong to directly submit to the President the information or report he has. 

"Unang-una po, naibigay na po ng ating mahal na Pangulo ang mekanismo o sistema kung papaano ito maimbestigahan at nagbigay na nga rin po siya ng direktiba sa Regional Project Monitoring Committees (First of all, the President has already given the mechanism or system on the investigation and he has already given his directives to Regional Project Monitoring Committees)," Castro said.

"At kung anuman po ang maitutulong ni Mayor Magalong, mas maganda po na ito ay mailahad niya sa Pangulo at hindi naman po siguro kinakailangan pang magkaroon ng isang magli-lead sa probe dahil nga may mekanismo na po at sistema na ibinigay ang ating Pangulo (And whatever Mayor Magalong can contribute, it would be better for him to present it to the President, and it may no longer be necessary to have someone lead the probe since our President has already provided a mechanism and system for it)," Castro added.

The Palace officials further said that if Magalong has a complete report on the 67 congressmen allegedly involved in flood control projects, he can immediately submit it to the President.

"Hindi po ba mas magandang maibigay na niya ang report na ito sa ating Pangulo? At kung kinakailangan maidemanda o makasuhan nang may sapat na ebidensiya agad-agad na rin po itong dapat gawin (Wouldn't it be better for him to give this report to our President? And if it is necessary to file charges or lawsuits with sufficient evidence, that should also be done immediately)," Castro said.

Asked if there is a possible movement in Marcos Cabinet, following the investigation of anomalous flood control projects, Castro said the President will not hastily fire anyone without evidence. 

She said the President does not want to do a "witch hunt."

"Hindi naman po kaagad-agad magsibak ang Pangulo, kung wala naman pong ebidensiya. Ulitin po natin, mahirap po iyong tinatawag na witch hunt na dahil nasabi lang na palpak ang lahat or halos ‘no, ng ibang mga proyekto patungkol sa flood control ay magsisibak na po ang Pangulo, ng mga tauhan mula DPWH (The President will not immediately dismiss people if there is no evidence. Let me repeat, it is difficult when there’s what we call a witch hunt—where just because it was said that all, or almost all, flood control projects have failed, the President would start dismissing officials from the DPWH)," Castro said. 

"Alamin po natin kung ano ang kanilang mga responsibilidad, kung anuman ang naging kanilang mga negligence at kung makikita po ng Pangulo, agad-agad ito hindi naman po mag-aatubili na sila ay sibakin sa puwesto (We should first find out what their responsibilities are, what negligence they may have committed, and if the President sees it clearly, he will not hesitate to remove them from their positions right away)," Castro added.

The President also did not give a timeline for the investigation, he just wants it to be done as soon as possible, Castro said.

During his inspection at a flood-mitigation project in Iloilo City on Wednesday, Marcos ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to blocklist contractors who failed to deliver.