Malacañang has called on Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Egay Erice to submit any concrete proof regarding alleged irregularities in government flood control initiatives directly to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro urged the lawmaker to present his information to formal investigative bodies rather than voicing public doubts over the ongoing inquiry.
“Kung mayroon pa pong ibang mga may hawak na ebidensiya katulad nitong si Congressman Erice. Kung mayroon kang alam Congressman Erice, pumunta na po kayo sa Ombudsman at doon ninyo na ibigay lahat ang alam po ninyo para hindi kayo ma-disappoint at sasabihin ang Pangulo ang siyang mayroong kagagawan para hindi siya masampahan ng kaso – obligasyon ninyo po, Congressman Erice,” Castro said.
The response from the Palace comes after Erice publicly questioned remarks made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. concerning former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Erice suggested that the chief executive would not allow Romualdez to face imprisonment.
According to Castro, the administration remains fully cognizant of potential witnesses linked to Romualdez and maintains that any legal proceedings must be firmly rooted in substantiated proof. She emphasized that formal charges will proceed whenever sufficient evidence warrants action.
Castro pushed back against the lawmaker’s assertions, characterizing his commentary as lacking factual support.
“Ang kanyang mga sinasabi ay laging may ‘parang’ ‘I think’ ‘I don’t think’ lahat ay puro galing lang sa kanyang isipan pero walang basehan, walang facts, puro theory,” Castro said.
I “Alam ninyo po sa gobyerno, hindi tayo dapat nabubuhay lagi sa theory, hindi tayo dapat laging nabubuhay sa paninira,” she added.
The Palace press officer stated that Erice’s assumptions regarding the President’s motives were purely speculative, questioning whether the representative had ever discussed the matter directly with Marcos.
“Nakausap niya ba iyong Pangulo nang diretso para malaman niya kung anong damdamin ng Pangulo patungkol dito sa mga tao na nasasangkot sa flood control mess?” Castro asked.
Warning against claims of personal insight into executive decision-making, she added:
“Huwag siyang magsalita. Huwag siyang magsalita na parang may alam siya sa sinasabi ng Pangulo. Wala siyang karapatan maging spokesperson ng Pangulo unless papalitan niya ako dito,” Castro said.
“Saan nanggagaling ang lahat ng sinasabi mo? Bigyan niya ako ng ebidensiya dahil puro ganito na intriga, mahirap sumagot nang puro intriga,” she noted.
During his fifth SONA, President Marcos addressed the ongoing probe into flood mitigation projects and its reach toward high-ranking officials, including his cousin, Romualdez:
“Masakit man sa akin ito, pero kailangan nating gawin ang tama.”