Former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo’s 2022 presidential debate response about which government agency she would investigate for corruption is making the rounds online anew amid the controversy surrounding alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
In the CNN Philippines Presidential Debates held in February 2022, the candidates were asked which agency their administration would prioritize investigating for corruption.
Robredo wrote her answers on a whiteboard, naming the following agencies: Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
A screengrab of the moment resurfaced on social media as Congress investigates alleged corruption in the DPWH’s flood control projects.
Filipinos revisited Robredo’s answer, recalling how she tagged the agencies she considered among the “most corrupt.”
“Kaya pala hindi ka nila hinayaan manalo…” a Facebook user commented on the old post on Monday, September 22.
“‘Di ka nga nagkakamali, Maaa,” another recently commented.
“Parang ‘mother knows best,’” a different Pinoy said.
“She’s so ahead. Grabe!” another wrote.
“SHE KNOWS, SHE KNOWS,” a different Facebook user said.
Robredo, who placed second in the 2022 presidential race, lost to former senator and now-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The latter first raised alarm over alleged corruption in flood control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July.
The flood control mess
Some former DPWH officials are under scrutiny for alleged involvement in corruption schemes tied to flood control projects.
Allegations include officials receiving kickbacks, contractors flaunting lavish lifestyles, substandard construction, “ghost” projects or initiatives tagged as “completed” but were unfinished or never built. There have also been news reports about contractors with questionable track records still securing government projects.
One example is former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, who allegedly displayed bundles of cash “for delivery” to politicians as part of the flood control kickback scheme.
ALSO READ: ‘Pure evil’: Outrage flares as photos show alleged kickbacks in flood control projects
The Department of Finance placed the losses from corruption in flood control projects at P118.5 billion ($2 billion) between 2023 and 2025, though environmental groups such as Greenpeace believe the actual amount may be higher.
