Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during the Malacanang press briefing on July 16, 2026. Screen grab from RTVM livestream/Facebook.
Malacañang warned Monday that the theft of critical equipment from pumping stations could prolong flooding, as the government also faced growing scrutiny over alleged irregularities involving billions of pesos in flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prevent further thefts and ensure pumping stations remain operational during heavy rains.
The warning followed the discovery of missing high-voltage cables at the Sunog Apog pumping station in Tondo, Manila.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the theft left the facility inoperative during heavy rains before replacement cables were installed and operations resumed Sunday.
Heavy-duty check valves were also reported stolen from the Tumana pumping station in Marikina. The components are designed to prevent water from the swollen Marikina River from flowing back into surrounding communities. Iron manhole covers have also been reported stolen along Roxas Boulevard.
“To all those committing these acts of sabotage, you will be pursued by the law. We will hold you accountable because lives and livelihoods could be affected by your selfish acts,” Castro said. She added that replacing stolen equipment would require additional government spending and could delay the restoration of flood-control facilities.
Separately, Castro urged the public to give the Office of the Ombudsman enough time to investigate alleged anomalies in government flood control projects, saying investigators must build cases supported by sufficient evidence.
“Mahirap madaliin ang kaso tapos hilaw. Sisisihin sila kapag na-dismiss ang kaso dahil kulang sa ebidensiya,” she said.
The Ombudsman has been investigating alleged irregularities in flood control spending nationwide. On Aug. 28, it filed graft and malversation charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and several former DPWH officials over an alleged nonexistent Php 77-million project in Balagtas, Bulacan. The anti-graft body is also examining flood control projects in Davao City.
The developments come as the government plans to expand Metro Manila’s flood-control infrastructure by adding 13 pumping stations to the 73 currently managed by the MMDA. Four will be new facilities while nine existing stations will be upgraded, with the additional capacity targeted to become operational by the end of 2026 or early 2027.