It is too early to conclude that the fight against corruption, which stemmed from the massive flood control scandal, was a failure, Malacañang said.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that considering some individuals have already been charged and investigations are ongoing, it would be too early to label the effort a failure.

"Sa ngayon ay masyado pang maaga na pag-usapan kung may failure to make these culprits liable for their acts. Unang-una po, nagsisimula pa lang po tayo, mayroon na pong mga nakakasuhan, at sinabi rin po ng Ombudsman at ng DOJ ay patuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga (At this point, it is still too early to discuss whether there has been a failure to hold these culprits liable for their actions. First of all, we are only just beginning; cases have already been filed, and both the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice have said that investigations are still ongoing)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Feb. 9.

"So, tingin natin po ay nakikita naman ito para mapatunayan ang bansa sa pamumuno po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na sinsero po at seryoso ang administrasyon na ito na puksain ang korapsyon (So we believe this shows and will help prove that under the leadership of President Marcos Jr., the country is sincere and serious about eradicating corruption," Castro added.

The Palace official made the statement when asked whether the failure to seek convictions in the corruption cases related to the flood control mess could weaken the country's standing in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that leads action against money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats to the financial system.

Last week, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Remolona warned that there is a risk the Philippines is going back to the FATF’s grey list, which the country exited last year.

Economists said the delay in the freezing of assets of contractors and businessmen tied to the flood control anomalies could put the country back to the FATF grey list.

If legislation is needed to prevent the country from going back to FATF's grey list, the Palace official said it would be up to the legislators to work on the matter.

"At kaya po nagpaimbestiga ang Pangulo at tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot upang maging malinis po ang ating bansa sa isyu ng korapsyon ( That is why the President ordered an investigation, and efforts to hold those involved accountable continue, so that our country can be free of corruption)," Castro said.

"Kung may legislation na dapat po, ito po ay trabaho na po ng ating mga mambabatas. Kung mayroon pa po silang nakikitang mga kakulangan, sila na po ang maaaring bumalangkas ng anumang bagong batas patungkol dito (If legislation is needed, that is the work of our lawmakers. If they see any gaps, they are the ones who can draft any new laws on the matter," Castro added.