MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced during his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday that over P800 million in ill-gotten assets from anomalous flood control projects has been returned to the government. The figure was revealed as part of a broader discussion on asset recovery efforts, with Marcos stating that the amount recovered was out of a total P20 billion in questionable funds. The announcement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of government spending and transparency in public infrastructure projects.

Several minority bloc senators, including Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, have decided to skip the physical gathering for the Sona, citing logistical and personal reasons. Cayetano noted that his absence would not affect the proceedings, as the event will be conducted virtually. This decision reflects growing divisions within the Senate, particularly regarding the transparency and accountability of the administration’s policies.

The recovery of the P800 million has been cited as a positive step in addressing corruption, though critics argue that more needs to be done to ensure accountability. The government has not yet released further details on how the funds were recovered or which specific projects were involved. (newsinfo.inquirer.net)

The absence of key senators from the Sona highlights the political tensions surrounding the administration’s handling of public funds and infrastructure projects. (cebudailynews.inquirer.net)