Malacañang stood firm that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should not be blamed for the widespread irregularities in the government’s flood control projects.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro stressed that it was Marcos himself who ordered a large-scale investigation into corruption not only in flood control projects but also in other infrastructure programs under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Opo, dahil hindi po maglalakas ng loob ang Pangulo na siya pa mismo ang magpapaimbestiga kung alam niya sa sarili niya na mayroon siyang maling ginawa, maliban lamang, sinasabi nga natin kung mayroong gagawa ng kuwento, para sirain ang pangalan ng Pangulo,” Castro said in the September 26 briefing.
Castro also pointed out that the President has full trust in his cabinet secretaries when it comes to managing the budget of their respective agencies.
“Unang-una po, pinirmahan niya po iyan, may mga na-veto, inaral po iyan ng economic team at nandodoon po ang kanyang paniniwala sa isinasaad at sinasabi ng kaniyang mga cabinet secretaries,” she added.
She further explained: “So with that, nang ipakita iyong supposed to be projects, at iyan po ay kanyang pinirmahan sa paniniwalang iyan po ay gagawin.”
The Palace likewise maintained that it is unfair to drag Marcos into the controversy, even as the name of his cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, has been implicated in the alleged flood control project anomalies, with claims that he received kickbacks.