By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Tuesday maintained that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shares the call of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for transparency and accountability, noting that no special treatment shall be accorded to any public official who violates the law.
This, as members of the religious group continue to gather along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) near the People Power Monument in Quezon City, allegedly to express their support to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing possible plunder charges in connection with his undeclared campaign contributions worth around P75 million.
“Ang Pangulo po ay naniniwala sa paninindigan ng INC—ipatupad ang batas, transparency, accountability, managot ang dapat managot, at iyan po iyong ginagawa ng administrasyon,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing.
“Kung dapat managot ang isang Senator Marcoleta na nagkataong miyembro ng INC, hindi po ba dapat na i-push din natin iyon dahil lahat naman tayo dito ay dapat na naniniwala sa pagpapanagot ng mga diumanong gumawa ng krimen or paglabag sa batas,” she added.
Castro also rejected INC’s allegations of “selective justice,” insisting that critics are not being targeted nor are allies being protected under the Marcos Jr. administration.
“Wala pong selective justice na namamayani sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. Kaya nga po kahit na kaibigan, kaalyado, nauna pa po na nakulong, na-detain, at ngayon ay humaharap sa kaso ng plunder at graft case,” Castro said, referring to former Sen. Bong Revilla, who is facing charges over an anomalous flood control project in Bulacan.
“Doon pa lamang po ay maipapakita na totoo ang sinabi ng Pangulo, kahit anong kulay ninyo, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kapag kayo po ay may ebidensiya at may ebidensiya laban sa inyo, sa korte ninyo na lamang po ito ipaliwanag or depensahan,” she added.
She also dismissed claims that Marcoleta was being charged due to his supposed efforts to expose alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
“Hindi po siya nag-iisa dahil ang administrasyon na ito ay gusto po ring malaman ang lahat ng katotohanan at gusto mapanagot ang lahat ng sangkot,” she said, assuring the public that investigations into the flood control scandal would continue in pursuant to President Marcos Jr.’s directive to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, the Palace reiterated that while Marcos Jr. respects the protesters’ freedom of expression and right to assembly, the President’s primary concern was the significant disruption caused by the “surprise” rally to the public.
Castro stressed that workers, students, businesses, and even ambulances carrying emergency patients had been adversely affected by the protest.
“Ang Pangulo po ay nakikinig at ginagalang sila. Ang tangi nating hiling ay igalang nating lahat yung mga naaapektuhan na hindi dapat maapektuhan,” she said. (with reports from Clay Pardilla and Kenneth Paciente / PTV News)
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