Manila, Oct. 14 -- With surveys showing rising public anger and impatience over the multi-billion-peso flood control scandal, Malacanang on Tuesday appealed for calm as it assured that the investigation is progressing - albeit not as fast as many demand.

"Kalma lang. Hindi po kasi ito nadadaan sa agad-agaran (Be calm. We cannot rush this)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a media briefing, addressing mounting calls for immediate arrests.

A lawyer herself, Castro stressed that rushing cases without solid evidence could backfire.

"Ano po ang mas hindi nyo tatanggapin - maraming kasong naisampa pero na-dismiss dahil hindi hinog at kulang ang ebidensiya? (What do we want - we file cases that will be dismissed later on because of...