Marcos monitoring anti-corruption protests – Palace

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

(File Photo: Colleene T. Singca/PCI)

MANILA – 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 (The President is monitoring because peace and order are needed, protests should be peaceful. That’s why he cancelled his trip so that he can know and hear what the people’s true grievances are),” Castro said in a television interview.

Castro said the President values freedom of expression.

“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 (Just like our President said, he will not hinder the freedom of expression. If he had not been president and he is not president now, he would join the protest to express his disappointment over widespread abuse of public funds),” she said.

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 (If they express their feelings, this should not contradict what the government desires),” she added.

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.

“Ang Pangulo mismo ang nagpasimula ng pag-iimbestiga na ito dahil nakita niya ang dulot ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects noong nakaraang ilang buwan — dahil sa dalawang bagyo at isang habagat (The President himself initiated this investigation because he saw the effects of the anomalous flood control projects during the two typhoons and the southwest monsoon in the last few months),” she said.

The President earlier created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure 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.

“’Yun 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 (That’s what others fear that these legitimate aspirations of the people to curb corruption may be be mixed with personal agendas),” she said.

Still, Castro 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 (Your rights will not be violated by the President, the government. The President really values human rights. Just don’t abuse it or break the law),” she added.