Statement of Malacañang amid the Massive Corruption Issues in PH
Malacañang claimd that President Bongbong Marcos would prefer for the government officials tagged in anomalies to resign “out of delicadeza”.
Several senators and congressmen were tagged in the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines. Currently, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI is conducting a flood control investigation.
The ICI is an independent body that was created upon the order of Marcos Jr. The ICI has also investigated the flood control projects in Marcos Jr.’s bailiwick Ilocos Norte. The commission is led by former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr.
In the Senate, senators Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva are among those who were tagged in the flood control mess. Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva were among those who the ICI suggested to the Ombudsman to file flood control charges against.
The ICI also suggested to the Ombudsman to file a case against former House member Zaldy Co over the alleged “kickback scheme”. Co resigned from being the Ako Bicol Partylist Representative amid the massive corruption allegations against him. Malacañang previously claimed that the President will not intervene with the investigation of the ICI.
Recently, Malacañang spoke anew on the government officials who are tagged in the anomalies. Based on a report on GMA News, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos would prefer the public officials tagged in the anomalies to voluntarily step down from their positions.
“Kung alam po halimbawa po ng isang miyembro ng Gabinete na siya po ay may kinalaman o maaari siyang masangkot sa ganitong klaseng anomalya, nanaisin po ng Pangulo na sila po mismo ang mag-resign out of delicadeza,” the Malacañang press official said.
The remarks of the Malacañang press officer came after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman resigned from their positions. The two (2) former Cabinet officials were mentioned by Zaldy Co when he accused Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez of a P100-billion budget insertion.