Malacañang on Monday responded to an open letter from major business and labor groups urging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to take stronger and faster action against what they described as widespread corruption in the country.
In a press briefing held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Palace Press Officer Usec. Atty. Claire Castro relayed the government’s official stance on the matter, stressing that ongoing anti-corruption measures are both lawful and deliberate.
“Ito po, mas maganda po talaga na ma-explain po natin kasi po kapag ka po iba ang nadidinig nila, ibang mga naratibo, maaari talaga silang magkaroon ng hindi tamang pag-unawa sa nangyayari sa kasalukuyan,” Castro said.
She pointed out that several developments have already taken place since President Marcos’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
“Kung nagkaroon po ng SONA, that’s July… August, September, October, tandaan na po natin: Marami na po ang nangyari. Nandiyan na po ‘yong mga freezing of assets na in-order ng AMLA. Nandiyan na rin po ang pagsasampa ng kaso, at nandiyan na rin po ang sinasabi nating immigration lookout bulletin orders na ibinigay,” she said.
Addressing questions about the absence of hold departure orders (HDOs), Castro clarified that such directives can only be issued by the courts, not by the Executive branch.
“Bakit wala pang hold departure order? Unang-una po, ang hold departure order, ang mag-iisyu po niyan ay korte. So dapat malaman po nila, na lahat po ng ginagawa ngayon ng administrasyon at ng mga law enforcement agencies ay naaayon sa batas,” she explained.
“Hindi po natin basta-basta maaaring tawagin o sabihin na isang tao ay hindi ka puwedeng magbiyahe. ‘Yan po naman ay lalabag sa batas. Dahil lahat din naman po tayo ay may freedom of movement. ‘Yan po ay isang constitutional right,” Castro added.
She further noted that once arrest warrants are issued, the government may then request the court to release corresponding hold departure orders against involved individuals.
“So sa mga naiinip, ang pamahalaan po ay nasa tamang pagkilos, na naaayon sa batas. Nagmamadali, yes, minamadali lahat, pero hindi natin mamamadali ang lahat pero ma[kaka]-violate tayo ng batas at ng human rights. So hintayin po natin dahil may naisampa na po[ng kaso],” she said.
Castro maintained that all government actions strictly adhere to due process and respect for human rights, expressing confidence that the public—and even critics—will eventually understand that the administration’s efforts are rooted in legal and procedural integrity.