Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang questioned the basis of renewed calls for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign ahead of planned nationwide protests on Sept. 21, the anniversary of martial law, saying the administration has been taking action against personalities implicated in the flood control corruption scandal.
Palace press officer Claire Castro made the statement after the media asked her about the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan’s continuing call for the president to step down and its claim that the arrest of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was only the beginning of accountability over alleged flood control anomalies.
“Tanungin ninyo muna po sila kung ano ang dahilan para manawagan sila na mag-resign ang Pangulo dahil ang Pangulo po ay nakikita natin kung ano po ang ginagawang mga aksyon sa tulong ng ibang mga ahensya kung saan nagkakaroon ng mabilisang pagsasampa ng mga kaso, matapos na aralin ang mga ebidensya, ito naman po ay naisasampa,” Castro said.
[Translation: You should first ask them what their basis is for calling on the president to resign, because we can see the actions being taken by the President with the help of other agencies. Cases are being filed promptly after the evidence is studied.]
Castro pointed to the legal action taken against Romualdez, the president’s cousin, as she defended the administration’s response to the scandal.
“Hindi lingid sa atin na ang kanilang dapat na, ayon sa kanila, ang dapat na sampahan ng kaso ay diumanong kamag-anak ng Pangulo. Kumilos naman po ang Ombudsman ayon sa kanilang nakitang ebidensiya, ano pa po ba ang nais ng mga taong ito?” she said.
[Translation: It is no secret that, according to them, one of those who should be charged was supposedly a relative of the President. The Ombudsman acted based on the evidence it found, so what more do these people want?]
Romualdez was arrested on Sept. 7 after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant in connection with a ₱7.44-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged kickbacks from flood control and other government projects.
BAYAN and other groups are preparing another anti-corruption protest on Sept. 21 dubbed “Baha sa Luneta 3.0.” BAYAN secretary general Mong Palatino earlier said the government had yet to take meaningful action on corruption, the flood control controversy, pork barrel, and other issues.
The group has called for Marcos’s resignation since last year, arguing that the president himself should be held accountable over the flood control controversy. The group has maintained that calls for the president and Vice President Sara Duterte to step down are constitutional forms of political expression.
Appeals for peaceful protests
Malacañang said Marcos would not prevent Filipinos from joining the Sept. 21 demonstrations, but urged protesters to avoid a repeat of the violence that broke out near the Palace during last year’s anti-corruption rallies.
“Hindi naman po pinipigilan ng pangulo at hindi hinahadlangan ang saloobin or pagsasabi ng saloobin ng ating mga kababayan sa mga ganitong klaseng pagtitipon,” Castro said.
[Translation: The president is not preventing or obstructing our people from expressing their sentiments in gatherings like these.]
“Huwag na lang po sana maging marahas, at ang karapatan naman po ninyo na manawagan ay para madinig kung ano ang nais ninyong ipadinig at makarating sa ating pamahalaan,” she added.
[Translation: We only ask that it not turn violent. You have the right to make your calls so that what you want to say can be heard and reach the government.]
Castro said police are prepared for the demonstrations.
The Sept. 21 demonstrations coincide with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1972.
