Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the Marcos administration for supposedly being selective when it comes to its corruption probe.

In an interview with reporters in Zamboanga City, Duterte claimed the Marcos family only wanted to prolong their position in power and that they were controlling every narrative.

“Walang ginawa ang gobyernong ito kundi number one mamulitika, number two, ubusin ang budget ng Pilipinas sa korapsyon… Wala na silang objective para sa kanilang pagkaupo diyan sa administrasyon kundi mamulitika and ang end-goal nila is perpetuation in power,” she said.

“Bakit specific ‘yung pag-iimbestiga? Bakit hindi imbestigahan ang lahat ng corruption scandal? Bakit kino-control ang kuwento sa korapsyon. Bakit hindi nilalabas lahat noong mga insidente o mga gawain o mga iskandalo sa korapsyon, bakit pinipili?” she added.

The Vice President also urged the government to investigate the anomalous laptop deals under the Department of Education. She claimed this anomaly was linked to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, as Sunwest was supposedly its contractor.

But in July, it can be remembered that the Ombudsman already recommended graft, falsification charges vs former DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones, ex- budget undersecretary Lloyd Lao, and other former officials over the P2.4-billion laptop deal.

“Kung talagang seryoso ang Ombudsman sa pag-iimbestiga, imbestigahan nila ang laptop corruption scandal ng DepEd. Nandoon si Zaldy Co, alam ko yun dahil gumawa kami ng sarili naming investigation sa loob ng DepEd noong ako ay department of education secretary,” she said.

“May I just say na mayroong confidential funds na pumunta doon sa paghahanap ng ebidensya sa imbestigasyon na yun,” she added.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier admitted that corruption has already dampened taxpayer sentiment, but he said the government collections are still manageable.

Recto in September also said the Philippine economy lost over P100 billion to “ghost” flood control projects from 2023 to 2025.