''Clean your House first!''

Malacañang on Saturday told the House of Representatives to heed the public demand for full accountability for anomalous flood control projects, amid the ongoing 2026 budget process.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin took strong exception to attempts by certain members of the House of Representatives to shift the blame for the revealed corruption in public infrastructure projects to the Executive Branch.

“The Cabinet strongly objects to the recent spins coming from certain members of the House of Representatives who are thereby attempting to shift the blame for their own corruption and failures onto the Executive Branch,” Bersamin said.

“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,” Bersamin added.

Bersamin urged the House of Representatives to exercise full accountability among their own members in the investigation initiated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. into anomalous flood control and other projects.

“All our investigations into the anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked. Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability: Clean your House first!,” Bersamin said.

Marcos is set to issue an executive order creating an independent commission to investigate irregularities in flood control projects and other Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects marred by corruption.

The President said the independent commission will continue the investigation and recommend the legal actions to be taken against liable parties.

Marcos also ordered a comprehensive review of the proposed DPWH budget under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to make the necessary changes to ensure transparency, accountability and the proper use of public funds. Presidential News Desk