Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday, Sept. 1, that President Marcos was “too little, too late” when he ordered the probe into the anomalous flood control projects of the government, pointing out that rampant corruption isn’t just happening in the country’s infrastructure programs.

“Well, sabi ko nga ‘no, too little too late ‘yung administration. Dahil sinasabi ko nga, hindi lang naman flood control projects ‘yung merong corruptions (Well, as I was saying, this administration is too little, too late. Because I was already saying, corruption doesn’t just happen in the flood control projects),” she said during an interview with former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in The Hague, Netherlands.

Duterte explained that she herself—as Davao City mayor in 2010–already saw the corruption in all the previous administrations, including that of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Naging mayor ako 2010, meron ng issue ng flood control corruption. And, worse, mas worse lang sa atin ngayon (I became mayor in 2010, there was already flood control corruption. And it just became much worse now),” she added.

She threw a challenge to Marcos, once her running mate and ally, that he could point to the personalities behind the anomalous projects if he’s serious about his anti-corruption drive.

may kagagawan ng corruption sa budget. Pero, well, as you can see, para ngang nanonood tayong zarzuela (If the President is really serious, that can be done in a day, he can already point to who are behind the budget in corruption. But well, as you can see, it’s like we’re watching a zarzuela),” Duterte alleged.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee—headed by Duterte-ally Senator Rodante Marcoleta—opened the investigation into the government’s non-existent and overpriced flood control projects on Monday.

Malacanañg is also now finalizing an executive order to create an independent commission tasked to  investigate anomalies at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

But the Vice President said that Marcos is well-aware of corruption not only in the flood control projects, but in the Department of Education (DepEd) as well.

Duterte, who was the President’s Education chief until her resignation in mid-2024, spoke against the insertions in the DepEd’s School Building Program budget, alleging that members of the House of Representatives divided the fund among themselves.

“Alam yun ni President Marcos, ni BBM. Alam niya yun, kasi tinake-up din yun during a meeting in Malacañang. Pero (President Marcos, BBM knows that. He knows that because we took it up during a meeting in Malacañang. But), he looked the other way,” she said.

But the Vice President questioned the timing of the investigations.

“Ibig sabihin meron na naman siguro silang niluluto na behind the scenes—na siyempre hindi natin nakikita dahil lahat tayo nakatutok doon sa flood control corruption (It means that they are doing something behind the scenes—that we cannot see of course because we are so focused on the flood control corruption),” she furthered.

In an earlier interview, Duterte refused to give a “free advice” to the administration, saying she’ll just watch the government’s “circus” or “zarzuela.”

Meanwhile, the Vice President revealed that visiting Bicol Region for the Peñafrancia Festival will be at the top of her schedule when she returns to the Philippines.

She plans to attend small sectoral gatherings there to discuss the issues of Bicol because the region is also a victim of government corruption, she said.

Duterte, however, did not confirm if there is a scheduled meeting with former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo.

“Hindi pa namin nagawa ‘yung schedule namin. Pero yes, gusto sana namin na ma- meet yung mga local government officials ng --- hindi lang ng Naga, ng entire Bicol Region, kung kakayanin ng schedule (We haven’t finalized our schedule. But yes, we want to meet the local government officials not just of Naga, but the entire Bicol Region, if schedule permits),” she said.

“But mainly, nandoon kami (we will be there) to celebrate with the Bicolanos. To pray with the Bicolanos sa pinakamalaking festival nila, ang Peñafrancia Festival (in their biggest festival, the Peñafrancia Festival),” she added.