Bersamin backtracks on ‘clean your house’ remark, vows EO probe on flood-control mess

MANILA — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday moved to ease tensions with lawmakers, clarifying that his controversial “clean your house first” remark was not meant as a slight against the House of Representatives. At the same time, he confirmed Malacañang is preparing an executive order to create an independent commission to investigate questionable flood-control projects.

“There is nothing intended [in the statement] that is malicious or to malign the House of Representatives,” Bersamin told lawmakers during the presentation of the Office of the President’s proposed ₱27-billion budget for 2026 before the House appropriations panel.

He explained his statement was intended to emphasize cooperation between the branches of government. “It was more to emphasize our constitutional position and separation, and to elicit cooperation and support from the House of Representatives more than any other. We do not intend to rile up the tension between our departments.”

Bersamin’s earlier warning — “CLEAN YOUR HOUSE FIRST” — came in defense of the Executive Branch amid budget controversies. “The Members of the Cabinet will not tolerate any attack on the integrity and reputation of the Executive Branch, and any effort to hold the budget process hostage by political theatrics. Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability,” he said in his original statement.

During Monday’s deliberations, the executive secretary confirmed that Malacañang is finalizing an executive order creating an independent commission to sustain the initiative launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Thank you for this opportunity to say something about this statement of the President. We do confirm that we are working on an Executive Order that will deliver on what the President has started in the SONA,” Bersamin said.

He stressed the commission would not preempt or obstruct congressional inquiries. “We are not yet sure when we will come out with an independent commission or body… We do not want to preempt the Congress, especially this House, from doing its own… taking the initiative… also in this respect. We will not be a hindrance there,” he explained.

Bersamin added the body would be temporary. “The initial discussions in the Executive is that whatever commission is created by the presidential fiat would have a timeline, a sunset [provision]. And it becomes your privilege to look at it in the same way and maybe pass a law or laws regarding the investigation of these anomalies.”

He also reminded legislators that their oversight powers remain intact. “This EO [on flood control probe] will not be barring you from doing that because that is your institutional responsibility also. So that is the light in which we would like you to see this proposed EO that the Executive may come out with.”/PN