By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Citing recent developments against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., amid the administration’s ongoing investigation into ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects, as well as lapses in other government public works, the Palace dismissed a lawmaker’s recent actions as a “nuisance” that aims to distract Marcos from his governance agenda.
At the Malacañang press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro rebuked the remarks of Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, who accused the President of betrayal of public trust, and called for the resignation of the Chief Executive from his post.
Castro told reporters, “Mahirap po kasing magsalita ng walang ebidensiya, madaling magbintang, madaling magsabi kung ano-ano. Kung walang ebidensiya, hindi dapat paniwalaan.”
She added, addressing Barzaga’s plan to file an impeachment complaint against Marcos, “Makarating o hindi makarating, ito naman po ay trabaho at saklaw po iyan ng House of Representatives.”
The Palace mouthpiece, meanwhile, reiterated the President’s focus on his work as the country’s top government official, noting his non-intervention approach on political noise and theatrics, which she cited as unnecessary in the Marcos Jr. administration’s continuing push for reforms as the catalyst for much-needed change in the country.
Castro declared, declining to further comment on the Cavite lawmaker’s pronouncements, “Sa panahon ngayon na marami pong ginagawa po ang Pangulo, hindi po pinapansin ang mga ganyang klaseng usapin. Busy ang Pangulo sa pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin, maraming trabaho para maiangat pa ang Pilipinas, hindi para ibaba ang dignidad ng ating bansa.”
Earlier, Castro also denounced the pronouncements of Vice President Sara Duterte against the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the ongoing flood control probe, as well as Duterte’s remarks on inadequate protection for OFWs, both of which question the performance and competence of the Chief Executive.
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