Malacañang Speaks on Stance of Pres. Bongbong Marcos over Flood Control Mess
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President will not intervene in the investigation of the flood control issue as per the Palace.
The flood control mess in the Philippines sparked the anger and disappointment of countless Filipinos. Last September 21, a “Trillion Peso March” was held as thousands of Filipinos joined the street protests to call for accountability over the corruption issues in the Philippine government.
Amid the issue, several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Senate, and the House of Representatives were linked to the issue. Presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez even resigned from being the House Speaker after he was accused as one of the government officials who allegedly receive kickback from the flood control projects.
Romualdez stressed that the longer he stays in the House speakership, the longer will the weight of the accusation be not only on himself but as well as the chamber and the Marcos Jr. administration. He also claimed that his resignation is in line with the pursuit of allowing the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to freely and fully exercise their mandate to investigate.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure is an independent probe team armed with broad powers that the President ordered to create to investigate the infra projects of the government. It has the power to move for the freezing or seizure of the assets linked to anomalies, issue a subpoena, and investigate the individuals who are accused of violation of the anti-graft and corruption laws.
Previously, following the creation of the ICI, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his allies will not be spared from the flood control probe. According to him, there may be doubts on it but the only way to do it is not to spare them.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on the stance of Pres. Bongbong Marcos over the flood control probe by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire T. Castro when she was asked about the claims of former marine Orly Guteza, the President will not intervene in the investigation.
”Kung mayroon po talagang ganitong pangyayari, patunayan na lang po at muli, hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo sa mga pag-iimbestiga na ito kaya po nag-create ng independent commission para maging malaya ang pag-iimbestiga… Kamag-anak, kaalyado, pinsan man, kapatid man, o anuman, lahat po ay dapat maimbestigahan kung dapat na maimbestigahan,” Castro said.
The ICI is a three-member body with a special adviser. However, based on a report on Inquirer, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong resigned from being the special adviser of the commission and stressed his continued commitment to the people of Baguio.
Orly Guteza claimed that he is allegedly a former staff of Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co who is also accused of flood control corruption. Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez denied the accusation of “Sen. Marcoleta’s claim”.