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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Substandard na paputok?': De Lima says Marcos must deliver on anti-corruption drive

'Substandard na paputok?': De Lima says Marcos must deliver on anti-corruption drive

Published Jan 3, 2026 11:01 pm

At A Glance

  • With corruption in government still very much part of the discourse in and out of the House of Representatives this 2026, Mamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima says President Marcos must prove that his anti-corruption campaign isnt a "dud".
Mamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)
Mamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)


With corruption in government still very much part of the discourse in and out of the House of Representatives this 2026, Mamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima says President Marcos must prove that his anti-corruption campaign isnt a "dud".
"It is definitely expected of us, especially in government, to take a stronger stance against corruption and to ensure that the big fish or big fishes in this massive corruption scandal do not go unpunished, a promise of this administration that has yet to be fulfilled," De Lima said in a statement Saturday night, Jan. 3.
"Clearly, the central figures and their accomplices in anomalous government infrastructure projects are the ones who want to dilute or weaken our efforts," she noted.
De Lima then suggested a New Year’s Resolution for President Marcos--the one who exposed the flood control projects corruption scandal in dramatic fashion during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28, 2025.
"Bagong Taon na, gawin namang New Year’s Resolution ng Pangulo na aksyunan agad at i-certify as urgent ang mahahalagang batas laban sa katiwalian (It’s already the New Year—let it be the President’s New Year’s Resolution to take immediate action and certify as urgent the important laws against corruption)," she said.
"If not, he will also be among those whom the Filipino people will continue to hold accountable. No one is beyond accountability. Pag ganyan nang ganyan ang Pangulo, para siyang substandard na paputok. Nagpasabog pero supot," said the former senator.
(When the President keeps acting like that, he’s like a substandard firecracker. He made a blast but turned out to be a dud.)
The measures that De Lima says should be declared urgent by Malacañang are the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) Law, a genuine Anti-Political Dynasty Law, and the Anti-Illicit Enrichment and Anti-Illicit Transfer Law.
De Lima says these laws will "really strengthen our fight against corruption and prevent the plundering of our nation’s coffers".
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