MANILA — Malacañang insisted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s appointment of former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman as chairperson and chief executive officer of the state-run Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines does not exempt her from the government’s ongoing investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stressed that Pangandaman’s appointment should not be interpreted as an indication that the President has cleared, prejudged, or shielded her from possible liability arising from the investigation.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin nito na inaakusahan ng Pangulo, hinuhusgahan ng Pangulo o inaabswelto ng Pangulo. Hindi po ito usapin patungkol sa flood control projects,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Castro emphasized that the administration remains committed to allowing authorities to investigate anyone who may be implicated, regardless of political affiliation or personal connections.
“Naging bukas naman po ang administrasyon sa pag-iimbestiga kahit sino pa iyan – kahit mga kaalyado, hindi kaalyado, kamag-anak, hindi kamag-anak,” she said.
She noted that Pangandaman is not facing any criminal charges at present, adding that the determination of criminal liability rests with the proper investigative agencies, not the President.
“Kung mayroon po silang ma-ikakaso at mayroon po silang ebidensiya, sila po ay malaya na magsampa ng kaso,” Castro said.
The Palace official added that the investigation into the alleged flood control project irregularities is being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.
Pangandaman resigned as Budget secretary in November 2025 alongside then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin after both were linked to the government’s probe into the alleged flood control project anomalies.
She was subsequently appointed to head the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines, the country’s only Islamic bank and a government-owned and controlled corporation./PN
