President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not believe he was the subject of recent comments made by his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, regarding “command responsibility” over alleged 2025 budget anomalies, Malacañang clarified on Thursday.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the President did not interpret the Leyte 1st District Representative’s statements as a personal swipe.
She noted that it was the President himself who first called for a probe when the irregularities surfaced.
“Hindi ganoon ang tingin ng Pangulo,” Castro said during a Palace media briefing.
The Palace official emphasized that the President had already fulfilled his mandate by ordering an investigation and ensuring it proceeded without interference, regardless of the officials involved.
ON EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
Castro further addressed the notion that “executive responsibility” serves as a direct indictment of the Chief Executive.
She argued that the executive branch is a broad spectrum of governance that extends beyond the President.
“Kapag sinabi nating executive, hindi lamang po ang Pangulo ang nasa executive,” she explained.
To maintain the integrity of the process and avoid any perception of a “cover-up,” the Palace highlighted the creation of an independent investigating body tasked with looking into the reported irregularities.
THE FORMER SPEAKER’S DEFENSE
Representative Romualdez has consistently denied any links to corruption or budget-related schemes, specifically those involving flood control projects. He has previously warned against efforts to turn him into a “fall guy” in the controversy.
While Malacañang acknowledged these claims as part of the former Speaker’s legal and personal defense, the administration maintained that its primary focus remains on transparency and accountability.
When questioned about the current rapport between the two leaders, Castro noted she had not observed any recent communication between them and declined to comment on the personal state of their relationship.