All government officials—ally or not—will be included in the investigation and will face charges over the anomalous flood-control projects in the country.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made an assurance on Wednesday, Aug. 27, that President Marcos is bent on filing cases against those who are involved in the incomplete and ghost flood-control projects.

He will spare no one, even those who are close to him, in the investigation, she added.

"Magdidemanda po talaga, sasampahan ng kaso ang dapat masampahan ng kaso. Walang sisinuhin, walang malapit sa puso, walang kaalyado – kung sinuman ang involved dito, sasampahan ng kaso (Cases will truly be filed against those who should face charges. No one will be spared, whether they are close to the heart or allies, whoever is involved here will be charged)," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

Asked for the President's position on the call to also include provincial officials in the investigation of failed flood-control projects, Castro reiterated that everyone who conspired in the anomalous projects would be probed.

 "Lahat po ng kasabwat, ayon naman po sa Pangulong Marcos Jr., lahat ng kasabwat, lahat ng may kinalaman at lahat ng nakipag-conspire sa ganitong klaseng maanomalyang flood control projects, lahat po iyan ay kasama sa pag-iimbestiga (All those involved, according to President Marcos Jr., everyone who was involved and who conspired in this kind of anomalous flood control projects will all be included in the investigation)," she said.

All projects flagged to be anomalous, including those claimed to be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), will also be investigated, Castro said.

"Accountability is stricter" for these projects, especially if they are classified as priority projects.

"Pero ito man po ay nasa NEP o parte ng insertions at proyekto ng ibang mga pulitiko, hindi po nangangahulugan na hindi iimbestigahan. Lahat po iyan, pantay-pantay na iimbestigahan (But whether this is in the NEP or part of insertions and projects of other politicians, it does not mean it will not be investigated. All of these will be investigated equally)," Castro said.

As of Aug. 27, a total of 9,020 reports in relation to flood-control projects have been lodged through the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.

Marcos has also inspected 11 projects located in Marikina, Iloilo, Bulacan, and Benguet since revealing disturbing statistics in the country's overall flood-control program.

The Palace official said Marcos is open to discuss with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong information on the alleged 57 lawmakers involved in anomalous flood-control projects.

Castro likewise confirmed that Magalong has already submitted to the President the document folder of some anomalous projects.

"Opo, nakapag-submit po ng mga dokumento si Mayor Magalong kay Pangulo, at ang Pangulo naman po ay open na makausap si Mayor Magalong (Yes, Mayor Magalong has submitted documents to the President, and the President is open to speaking with Mayor Magalong)," Castro said.

Castro stressed that Marcos is actually open to talk to anyone as long as it concerns the flood-control mess.

"Kahit naman po sino ay open ang Pangulo kung ito naman po ay patungkol sa maanomalyang flood control project. So, kahit sino po, lalung-lalo na po si Mayor Magalong, welcome po ang mayor para makausap po ang Pangulo patungkol po diyan (In fact, the President is open to anyone, as long as it concerns the anomalous flood control project. So, anyone—especially Mayor Magalong—is welcome to talk to the President about this matter)," Castro said.

Castro also urged Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste to speak with the President about the alleged attempt of a district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to bribe him.

"So, mas magandang makipag-ugnayan siya sa Pangulo para kung sinuman ang mga malalaking tao diumano na behind dito ay dapat ding makasuhan, hindi lamang po iyong district engineer (So, it would be best for him to coordinate with the President so that if there are allegedly big personalities behind this, they should also be charged—not just the district engineer)," she said.

Castro also urged Davao City acting Mayor Baste Duterte to "just watch" after claiming that the ongoing investigation and inspection of anomalous flood-control projects are merely a "PR stunt."

"Kung sinasabi niya po na ito’y PR stunt, manood na lamang po siya (If he was saying that this is a PR stunt, he just have to watch)," Castro said.

Last Aug. 11, Marcos bared "disturbing" statistics in the overall flood control projects in the country, including the distribution of 20 percent of projects nationwide to only 15 contractors, which he also named during the press conference.

He also revealed that of the P545.64-billion flood-control projects, more than P350 billion of these projects did not specify the exact type of flood control being built, repaired, or rehabilitated.