By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s appointment of former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman as chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of state-run Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines should not be interpreted as clearing her of any liability in the ongoing investigation into the flood control anomalies.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Pangandaman’s appointment is separate from the investigation and does not mean the President has either absolved or prejudged her.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin nito na inaakusahan ng Pangulo, hinuhusgahan ng Pangulo o inaabswelto ng Pangulo. Hindi po ito usapin patungkol sa (This does not mean that the President is accusing, judging or absolving her. The appointment is not about) flood control projects,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Castro stressed that the government’s investigation remains ongoing and that the administration continues to allow authorities to investigate anyone who may be implicated.
“Naging bukas naman po ang administrasyon sa pag-iimbestiga kahit sino pa iyan — kahit mga kaalyado, hindi kaalyado, kamag-anak, hindi kamag-anak (The administration has remained open to investigating anyone — whether allies or non-allies, relatives or not),” she said.
She noted that Pangandaman currently faces no criminal case and emphasized that the President is not the one who determines criminal liability.
“Kung mayroon po silang ma-ikakaso at mayroon po silang ebidensiya, sila po ay malaya na magsampa ng kaso (If they have evidence and grounds to file a case, they are free to file one),” Castro said.
The Palace official added that the investigation is being handled by the proper institutions, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.
Pangandaman stepped down as Budget secretary in November 2025.
She resigned alongside then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin after both were linked to the government’s probe into alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.
Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank is the country’s only Islamic bank and a government-owned and controlled corporation. (PNA)
