Malacañang has clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not issue an order to restart the investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects. Instead, the ongoing probe will be amended to incorporate new discoveries made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Clarification from the Palace Press Officer
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro made the statement during a press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. She emphasized the need to correct the course of the current investigation based on updated information.
"There's nothing like that; it's just really necessary to clarify what actually happened during the investigation," Castro stated. She explained that the DPWH thoroughly reviews cases before filing, ensuring they do not proceed if mistakes are found initially.
"So it's up to Sec. Vince to make amendments, to correct everything so the real culprits will be held liable," she added, referring to DPWH Secretary Manuel "Manny" Bonoan's successor.
Shifting Numbers on "Ghost" Projects
The need for amendments stems from revelations during the January 19, 2026 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. DPWH Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar reported that the agency had to restart inspections because the former leadership provided incorrect locations for the projects in question.
Out of the 421 projects originally tagged as potential "ghosts," a re-inspection found that 337 actually exist. However, their physical locations differ from the records submitted previously. Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida later stated that only 14 projects have been confirmed as completely non-existent.
President's Confidence in Former Secretary
During the briefing, Castro also conveyed President Marcos's belief that former DPWH secretary Manuel "Manny" Bonoan will testify truthfully in the Senate investigation. "The President believes that former Secretary Manny Bonoan will tell the truth, especially since he is in the Senate and his statements are made under oath," Castro said.
In the Senate hearing, Bonoan called the initial figure of 421 ghost projects "mind boggling." He claimed he was only informed about three non-existent projects in Bulacan province when asked by the President for a list. Bonoan said he personally inspected those sites and reported his findings to Marcos. He also strongly denied allegations of receiving over P2 billion in kickbacks from government projects.
Ongoing Independent Investigation
This development follows President Marcos's announcement on January 16, 2026, that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) is nearing the completion of its own probe. He mentioned only "one or two loose ends" remain. The ICI was formed in September 2025 to conduct an in-depth investigation into anomalous infrastructure projects, particularly flood control programs implemented over the past decade.
The situation highlights the complexities of auditing large-scale public infrastructure and the evolving nature of investigations as new data comes to light.
