By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the nationwide protests against corruption in multibillion-peso flood control projects, Malacañang said Sunday, stressing that the demonstrations will be allowed as long as they remain peaceful and lawful.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro bared that Marcos decided not to push through with his planned trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to focus on local issues and listen to the grievances of the public.
“Nagmo-monitor ang Pangulo dahil kailangan din po ng peace and order, at kailangan din po na maging matiwasay ang pagpo-protesta. Kaya nga po hindi niya tinuloy ang kanyang pagbibiyahe para malaman din niya at madinig niya kung ano ang tunay na hinaing ng taong bayan,” Castro said in a television interview.
“Katulad ng sinabi ng Pangulo natin, ang malayang pagpapahayag ng kanilang damdamin ay hindi ’yan hahadlangan ng Pangulo. Kung siya ay hindi naging presidente at hindi siya presidente ngayon ay malamang nasa kalsada rin siya upang ipahayag ang kanyang pagkadismaya sa malawakang pang-aabuso sa pondo ng bayan,” she added, noting that the President values freedom of expression.
The Palace official reminded demonstrators to observe the law and avoid disruptions, “Kung sila man ay magpapahayag ng kanilang damdamin, hindi dapat ito kokontra kung ano ‘yung minimithi ng gobyerno.
The protests were mounted following reports of irregularities in flood control projects that came under scrutiny after widespread flooding from recent typhoons and monsoon rains and the President’s sweeping order to investigate failed flood control projects.
Several civil society groups have demanded accountability amid allegations of “ghost projects,” budget irregularities, and contractors linked to political figures.
Castro underscored that Marcos himself ordered the investigation and uncovered the corruption during his State of the Nation Address last July.
The President earlier created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to look into alleged anomalies and directed government agencies to review project implementation and strengthen safeguards against corruption.
Castro also cautioned against efforts to use the protests for partisan ends, “’Yon nga ang kinakatakutan ng iba at pinapangambahan dahil itong mga lehitimong adhikain ng mga tao para masawata ang korapsyon ay baka mahaluan ng pang-personal na agenda.”
Still, she assured the public that the government will protect civil liberties, “Ang karapatan po ninyo ay hindi po ’yan iba-violate ng Pangulo, ng gobyerno. Ang human rights ay talagang pinapahalagahan po ng Pangulo. Huwag lamang pong aabuso o lalabag sa batas.”
Palace says public must not forget, continue fight vs. corruption
Malacañang on Sunday said Filipinos must sustain the fight against corruption, warning that forgetting the lessons from the multibillion-peso flood control scandal would allow wrongdoers to thrive.
In a televised interview, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the fight against corruption must continue, noting that President Marcos started calling out the illicit activities.
“Sinimulan niya ito siguro para mamulat ‘yung tao. Pero sana sa pagmulat na ‘to sana huwag silang makakalimot. Dapat magtuloy-tuloy ito dahil ito ang gusto ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
“Kasi otherwise, kung hindi niya ito sinimulan, mananatiling mayayaman ang mga ‘yan, namamayagpag pa rin. Pero ang Pangulo ang nag-start para mapigil ito. Huwag nilang kalimutan ‘yon,” she added.
Investigations are ongoing into alleged ghost projects and inflated contracts linked to massive infrastructure spending that critics say worsened flooding in several regions. The scandal has since fueled broader calls for systemic reform and clean governance.
The Palace official said the broader responsibility lies in the hands of the public, who must break the cycle of electing the same leaders who allow corruption to persist.
“Hindi lang Presidente ang pwedeng magpigil nito. Taumbayan talaga. Kayo po. May obligasyon tayong mamili ng tamang leaders,” Castro declared.
“Hindi ‘yung paulit-ulit na lang, nandiyan pa rin sila. Hindi rin tayo nadadala, ‘yung mga botante, hindi rin nadadala. Matuto tayo,” she added. (PNA)
