(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG on Wednesday described as ludicrous the remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte that the ongoing probe on anomalous flood control projects is just for show and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could eliminate corruption if he’s intent on doing it.

​”Only one day to complete the investigation? That is absolutely preposterous. The President does not conduct an investigation in a way like ‘tokhang,’” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press conference, speaking in English and Filipino.

Malacañang hits back at VP Duterte's criticism on flood scam probe

​”Tokhang,” which means “knock and plead,” is a key term in the context of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. It has become a word associated with the campaign’s controversial and deadly nature.

​”The President respects due process. The President respects human rights. Everything goes through a process.” ​Duterte earlier said that Marcos’ audit on flood control projects is “too little too late” and that it would only take a day for the Chief Executive to identify all those involved in corruption if he really wanted to uncover their identities.

​Castro retorted that the vice president should have thought of suggesting it to her father, former leader Rodrigo Duterte, who himself purportedly admitted that “ghost projects were rampant in the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways)” under his watch.

​”Did he ever fire a DPWH secretary during his time?” the Palace press officer said.

​Castro said that faulty and anomalous flood mitigation projects were approved before the present administration and that “no President in history” ever initiated an extensive investigation into an anomalous deal.

​”Let us remember, it was President Marcos Jr. himself who ordered the investigation, and he saw in his visits what went wrong... Even though his administration was impacted, President Marcos Jr. was brave enough to order a probe,” she added.

​Castro stressed that questionable projects earlier inspected by the President were approved and implemented under the previous leadership.

​”Again, this investigation is for the people and not mere politicking. The President is doing this even if it will affect his own administration,” Castro said.

​Last month, Marcos bared that 0 billion from the 5.64 billion for the 9,855 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025 went to only 15 contractors. This is 20 percent of the deals awarded to 2,409 contracting entities — statistics he said he found “disturbing.”​ Marcos earlier announced the crafting of an executive order that would create an independent commission that would investigate anomalous flood control projects., This news data comes from:http://ptuvw.gangzhifhm.com

​The body, he added, would make recommendations on how to prosecute the perpetrators.

Malacañang hits back at VP Duterte's criticism on flood scam probe

​The Palace gave assurances that there will be no sacred cows in the probe, even allies of the President.