By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Amid growing sentiments of frustration, anger, and disappointment over the flood control mess, Malacañang declared President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will ensure that he will see through the end of the ongoing anti-corruption probe in the government.
This, as Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed calls from the opposition for Marcos to step down from his seat, even claiming that the President was ‘at his weakest’ as the flood control probe marches forward.
Castro responded at the briefing Monday, “Ito pa ba yung weakest na masasabi natin? Meron na pong kilala, mga maimpluwensiyang tao, na ngayon ay nakakulong na.”
She asked the administration’s critics, “Madali po kasing sumigaw na bumaba sa puwesto. Pero kung paano palalakarin at pamumunuan ang gobyernong ito kapag bumaba ang Pangulo, ano kaya ang kanilang masasabi?”
The Palace mouthpiece, moreover, said that while President Marcos will not interfere with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) investigation on ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects, he is ready to face the independent body if the need arises.
Castro addressed calls to oust Marcos, citing his liability under ‘command responsibility,’ “Kung sasabihin po natin na command responsibility, siguro magbigay na lamang po sila [ng halimbawa] kung paano nila maili-link ang Pangulo tungkol dito.”
She concluded in her remarks, “Tandaan po natin, ang Pangulo ang nagpasimula nito. Hindi mabubukas ang ating isipan, hindi mabubukas ang ating mata, hindi mabubuksan ang ating tenga kung hindi mismo si Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang nagpasimula ng pag-iimbestiga na ito. Nais ng Pangulo na managot ang dapat na managot.”
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