By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Nararamdaman po ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon ang nararamdaman ng mga businessman kaya po patuloy ang ginagawang pag-iimbestiga, at patuloy ang pagpapabilis ng aksyon para po mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot.”
In a bid to address mounting calls for transparency and accountability amid the ongoing probe into the ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects, as well as lapses in other government public works, the Palace assured that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring developments on this pressing national issue.
This, as 34 business organizations filed a resolution calling for urgent action on the flood control mess while upholding transparency and accountability. Likewise, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice called for a special session regarding a bill intended to empower the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
At the Malacañang press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the government is open to the possibility of granting legal and contempt powers to the independent body, created by Marcos in September to look into this startling controversy.
Castro told the media, “Mas maganda po talaga na magkaroon ng ngipin ang ICI, pero sa ngayon po, nakikita naman po natin na maganda ang itinatakbo ng ICI. Pag nagpatawag po sila, kahit mga senador, kahit mga miyembro ng Kongreso, sila naman po ay tumutugon at nagbibigay ng kanilang pahayag.”
She added further, “Kung may igaganda pa, hindi naman po ito sasarhan ng pinto ng Pangulo.”
The Palace mouthpiece went on to outline the various initiatives of the President vis-à-vis flood control mess, which includes:
- Launch of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website on August 11
- Establishment of ICI by virtue of Executive Order No. 94 s. 2025 inked on September 11
- DOJ’s issuance of immigration lookout bulletin orders (ILBOs)
- Freezing of assets of those involved in the national issue
- Recommendation of filing charges against Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co
Castro concluded her remarks by dispelling speculations surrounding the recent visit of U.S. Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Keheller to the ICI, with Keheller simply inquiring about the methodology and mandate of the flood control probe body—thus relegating the visit as a “courtesy call.”
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