Marcos won’t excuse self from flood control probe - Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not excuse himself from the flood control probe if the investigation eventually reaches him, the Palace said.

“Matapang ang pangulo. At alam niya ang kanyang ginagawa. Kung ano man ang maimbestigahan dito, hindi rin po niya i-excuse ang sarili niya,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 22, when asked if Marcos is willing to submit himself to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure he composed.

[Translation: The president is brave. He knows what he is doing. Whatever is investigated here, he will not excuse himself.]

This was in response to a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) report, which said Marcos received tens of millions of pesos in campaign contributions from public works contractors in 2022.

Citing data from the statement of campaign contribution submitted by candidates to the Commission on Elections, the report said the president secured a total of P21 million from two campaign donors who have public works contracts with the government.

“After the election, both contractors benefited from a steep increase in the value of government contracts awarded to their firms,” the investigative report said.

NewsWatch Plus cannot independently verify PCIJ’s report.

Asked for a comment, Castro told the media to “let the Comelec do its job.”

Marcos has maintained that he will not excuse his allies and even family members from the flood control probe. The president’s cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has been tagged on the issue, for supposed kickbacks from infrastructure deals.

The president initiated an investigation into the flood control mess in August, naming at least 15 contractors that cornered the most number of projects in the last three years.