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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos to bare independent probe team on flood control mess in next 48 hours

Marcos to bare independent probe team on flood control mess in next 48 hours

No politicians, no contempt powers

Published Sep 9, 2025 05:42 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the inspection of the Flood Mitigation Project in in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City on Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the inspection of the Flood Mitigation Project in in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City on Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Marcos said he will announce the composition and mandate of the independent commission tasked to investigate flood control anomalies within the next 24 hours.
"Within the next 48 hours, I will already announce the powers that we are granting to the independent commission and the members of the independent commission," Marcos said during the Kapihan with the Media on Tuesday, Sept. 9, before departing Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The commission, Marcos said, will be entirely independent, free from the influence of any vested groups or individuals. There will also be no politicians included in the team.
"We have made very sure that they are in fact independent, truly independent. So, walang pulitiko diyan, puro imbestigador, abogado (there will be no politicians, all are investigators, lawyers). It’s a technical exercise," Marcos said.
He said the independent commission will be granted powers and authority to effectively investigate non-existent and substandard flood control projects, and the individuals and groups responsible for misusing and pocketing public funds.
The President said the commission should be granted subpoena powers to summon individuals linked to the anomalous projects.
Marcos also said he does not agree with the suggestion to give the commission contempt powers to declare in contempt a person who refuses to appear or brazenly lies before the commission.
"I don’t think that’s the role of the commission. The commission needs a subpoena power to compel people to come, and to testify and to provide information to the commission," he said.
"This is an investigative commission. So, they are not there to actually mete out punishment to whoever. They are there to find out the facts," he added.
The independent commission's findings and recommendations will then be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Office of the Ombudsman for appropriate action.

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President Marcos independent commission DPWH flood control probe flood control mess
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