By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday stressed that local political issues of any member state will not overshadow the regional and international discussions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Marcos clarified it as the Philippines assumes chairship of the ASEAN in 2026, amid the ongoing issues of corruption in the country, particularly on the alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects.
“We do not allow those local political issues of any member state to intrude into what we are trying to do,” the President said during the Kapihan with the Media in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia following the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
“Hindi kami nakikialam sa ibang bansa. We talk about ASEAN. And whatever is happening in other countries who belong to ASEAN, it doesn’t really enter into our conversation. It does not make a difference to the directions that we would like to take, the initiatives that we would like to make.”
The Chief Executive added that while leaders “all want to combat corruption,” the ASEAN is not a platform to order member states to act on their respective domestic issues.
“Even if you’re the Chair, hindi mo inuutusan itong mga ito. These are presidents and prime ministers and one king, a sultan. We have no place to tell them that this is what you should do, this is what you should not do.”
Solid evidence needed vs. corruption perpetrators
“The wheels of justice grind slowly but they grind very well.”
Understanding the growing public frustration over the rigorous investigation into anomalous flood control projects, Marcos underscored the need to gather “airtight” evidence to ensure the accountability and liability of those involved in corruption.
“We have to remind people that we have now moved from the political arena to the legal one. And the legal one, the legal arena has very strictly defined procedures,” he said when asked about his level of satisfaction with the performance of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
The ICI is the fact-finding body tasked to investigate alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects within the past 10 years.
“I understand the frustration because we do have a very good idea about who these people are. But you have to take them to court. You have to present evidence. They have to be convicted,” Marcos said, stressing that rushing the legal processes may jeopardize the cases and result in their dismissal.
“Due process must be observed… Kaya tiyakin natin na matibay ‘yung ebidensiya. Hindi madaling gawin ‘yun,” he added.
He emphasized that those who stole public funds must pay for their crimes through the wheels of justice, saying, “I think it’s more important that we get one chance at this. Isa lang ang chance natin. We cannot waste that opportunity to bring those people to justice and to bring justice to the Filipino people.”
-jpv
