President Marcos' term is not yet over, thus, many more things are expected to happen in the investigation of the massive flood control anomalies, Malacañang said.

"Hindi pa po natatapos ang termino ng Pangulo, marami pa po ang mangyayari at magaganap (The President’s term is not yet over; many more things will still happen and unfold)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

It came as a response to criticisms that the President’s pronouncement to jail those involved in the flood control anomalies before Christmas did not materialize, with only contractor Sarah Discaya having been arrested.

"Ang binanggit po ng Pangulo doon sa kanyang report ay sa mga taong nabanggit niya, marami ang hindi magiging merry ang Christmas. Wala naman siyang binanggit kung sinong pangalan (What the President mentioned in his report was that among the people he referred to, many would not have a merry Christmas. He did not mention any specific names)," Castro said.

She pointed out that in just over four months, some have been jailed, warrants of arrest have been issued, some have gone into hiding, and others are negotiating and returning the bulk of their kickbacks, which, she noted, never happened in any administration.

"Never nangyari sa anumang administrasyon. Sa administrasyon lang po ni Pangulong Marcos nangyayari ang mga ito (This has never happened under any administration. These developments are happening only under President Marcos’ administration)," Castro said.

The Palace official further defended the President's promise, saying the investigation definitely did not make the Christmas of those involved merry.

She added that the investigation and the pursuit against the suspects did not end last Christmas.

"Ang pagsabi po niya ng mayroong mga taong hindi magiging merry ang Christmas, iyong mga nakulong po definitely hindi naging merry ang Christmas. Pero hindi pa naman po natatapos ito (When he said that there would be people who would not have a merry Christmas, those who were jailed definitely did not have a merry Christmas. But this is not yet over),"Castro said.

"Kung mayroon pang inaabangan ang mga tao, mayroon din pong inaabangan ang Pangulo (If the public is waiting for developments, the President is also waiting)," Castro added.

According to Castro, the President is awaiting a swift resolution from the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ), adding that if all those who may be involved are supported by strong evidence—as what the President wants—due process is being observed.

The Palace Press Officer disclosed that there are no updates yet whether the resigned officials of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will be replaced.

"Sa ngayon ay wala pa po tayong—hindi po tayo nabibigyan ng update kung magkakaroon po ng replacement (As of now, we have not received any updates—there has been no information given on whether there will be a replacement)," Castro said.

She, however, gave an assurance that although the ICI has only one member left, the commission remains committed in continuing the investigation on the flood control corruption issues.

"At sa kasalukuyan po ay nagtatrabaho pa rin po ang mga nasa ICI at nandiyan din po ang Ombudsman na nangako na magpapatuloy po sila at nandiyan pa rin po ang enthusiasm na pabilisin ang pag-iimbestiga sa mga nasampahan na ng kaso (At present, those in the ICI are still working, and the Ombudsman is also there, having committed to continue and their enthusiasm to fast-track the investigation of those who have already been charged remains)," she said.

"So, hindi naman po titigil kahit po sabihin natin na isa na lang ang miyembro ng ICI, nandiyan pa rin naman ang executive director. Patuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga so hindi po titigil sa pag-iimbestiga (So the investigation will not stop even if we say that only one member of the ICI remains; the executive director is still there. The investigation will continue and will not come to a halt)," Castro added.