MANILA — Deepening an already fraught political divide, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio publicly charged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with “weak and insecure leadership,” saying his administration’s handling of the swelling flood-control corruption scandal has plunged the country into a crisis of confidence.
In a strongly worded video released as nationwide anti-corruption protests entered their second day, Duterte-Carpio said the government’s response to the controversy has been marked by indecision and a loss of public faith.
“Kaisa ako ng milyong-milyong Pilipinong nadismaya at nandidiri sa pamahalaang lulong sa insekuridad at walang kabusugang kasakiman,” she said.
According to the Vice President, the widening inquiry into suspect infrastructure allocations has exposed what she called Marcos’ failure to provide direction at a moment of national turmoil.
“The President now faces a profound crisis of confidence, especially in the way these corruption investigations are being handled, which appear to lack both direction and resolve,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio also questioned how Congress approved what she described as a distorted, multi-billion-peso national budget.
“We also seek clear answers on how a budget that deprived Filipinos of billions and billions of pesos was approved under his watch,” she said.
She cited her stint as Education Secretary, alleging that lawmakers reshaped the agency’s budget to favor politically connected allies.
“Sa halip na sundin ang listahan ng DepEd upang matugunan ang malalang kakulangan sa classrooms, mistulang ginawang pork barrel ang pondong nakalaan para sa kabataang Pilipino at pinaghati-hatian ng mga kongresistang malapit sa mga makapangyarihan,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio added that stepping down from the Department of Education came with personal and political consequences.
“Pinili kong huwag sumali sa panggagago sa taong bayan. Sa aking pagbitiw bilang kalihim ng DepEd, ininda ko ang kaliwa’t kanan na atake, kasama na ang impeachment, para lamang mapagtakpan nila ang katiwalian sa 2025 budget,” she said.
She also asserted that public calls for accountability should not be dismissed: “Ang karapatan nating magsalita at magpahayag ang sandigan ng demokrasya. Dapat itong pakinggan ng pamahalaan. Hindi para isantabi at balewalain lamang. We Filipinos deserve better.”
Her remarks come amid a series of social media videos by former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, who accused top officials — including Marcos — of orchestrating anomalous fund flows through flood-control projects. Co, who is currently abroad, has been linked to alleged multimillion-peso kickbacks.
Malacañang has rejected Co’s allegations, insisting he must return to the Philippines, testify under oath, and produce evidence. Marcos earlier said his administration would cancel Co’s passport once charges are filed./PN
